PS 

1499 

D85 

US 
1867 

MAIN 



NRLF 




B M 723 555 



iii.A ti..t_ ij i" OvJOS - Uv7T T\J JALtifL *i- o x . praov. 

a \ateurs, with Twentj-three colored Illustrations. Price 60 cents. 



No. CCCLXXVm. 

FRENCH S STANDARD DRAMA. 





JIBBER THE GASLIGHT. 

A TOTALLY ORIGINAL AND PICTURESQUE 

DRAMA 

OF 

[IFE AND LOVE IN THESE TIMES, 

IN FIVE ACTS. 

BY AUGUSTIE" ,DALY, 

ithorof "Lealf, the Forsaken ;" "Griffith- Gaunt, "&c., &c. 



AUTHOR S EDITION. 



LONDON : 
SAMUEL FRENCH, 

PUBLISHER, 

89, STRAND. 



NEW YORK : 
5AMCEL FRENCH & SON, 

PUB1.ISIIKRS, 

E, 14th Street, Union Square, 



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WEMYSS ACTING DRAMA, 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT: 



A TOTALLY ORIGINAL AND PICTURESQUE 



LIFE AND LOVE IN THESE TIMES, 



IJV FlYE ACTS. 



BY AUGUSTIN DALY, 



OP LliAII THE FORSAKEN," "GRIFFITH GAUNT," "TAMINO A 
EUTTERFLT," ETC., ETC. 



MS ORIGINALLY PLAYED AT THE NEW YORK THEATER IN THE 
MONTHS OF AUGUST, SEPT. AND OCT., 1867. 



AUTHOR S EDITION 



NEW YORK. : 

SAMUEL FRENCH & SON, 

PUBLISHERS, 

38 E. Hth St v notion Square, 



LONDON : 
SAMUEL FRENCH, 

PUBLISHER, 
89, STRAND. 



rip!f*Hii 

di=2^ 



g?fc5* I g &lt; 8 

"I? jr 




UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 



ACT i; 



SCENE 1st. Parlor at tlie Courtlands ; deep window at lack 
showing moioy exterior ; street lamp lighted; time, 
night ; the place elegantly furnished ; chandelier. 

RAY TRAFFOUD is discovered lounging on tcte-a- 
tete (c.) PEARL is at (L.) door taking leave of 
DEMILT, WINDBL, MRS. VAN DAM, and SUE 
EA.KHE, who are all dressed and mujfted to go out. 

Mrs. V. Good night ! of course we ll see you on Tuesday 

Pearl. To be sure you will. 

Dcmilt. Never spent a jollier hour. Good night, Ray. 

Ray. (On sofa.} Good night. 

Mrs V. You won t forget the Sociable on Tuesday, Ray ? 

Ray. 0, I won t forget. 

All. (At door.} Good night good night ! [Exit. L. 

Pearl. Good night. (Coming forward.} 0, dear! now they re 
gone, and the holiday s gone with them. (Goes to loindow.} There 
they go. (Laughter without.) KAY, do come and look at the VAN 
DAM S new sleigh. How they have come out. 

Ray. Yes, it s the gayest thing in the Park ! 

Pearl. (Still at window c.) I wonder where they got the money ! 
I thought you said VAN DAM had failed ! 

Ray. Well, yes. He failed to pay, but he continues to spend. 

Pearl. (As if to those outside). Good night ! (Response from 
without as sleigh bells jingle " Good night."} I wish I was in there 
with you. It s delightful for a sleigh ride, if it wasn t New Year s. 

! there s DEMILT over ! (Laughter outside cracking of whips 
RAY saunters up to window. Sleigh bells jingle, sleigh music heard 
to die away. RAY and PEARL wave their handkerchiefs. RAY comes 
down and sits, c.) 

Pearl. (Closing lace curtains?) Isn t it a frightful thing to be 
shut up here on such a beautiful night, and New Year s ot all 
others. Pshaw ? we ve had nothing but mopes all day. 0, dear ! 

1 hate mourning, though it does become me, and I hate everything 
but fun, larks and dancing. (Gomes down}. 

Ray. Where in the world is Laura? 

Pearl. O ! do forget her for a second, can t you ? She ll be hero 
presently. You re not in the house a minute but it s, " Where a 
LAURA ? " " Why don t LAURA come ? " 

Ray ( Tatting her hand) Well, if anybody in the world could 

M50948 



4 CXDEE 1HE GASLIGHT. 

make me forget her, it would be you. But if you had a lover, 
wouldn t you like him to be as constant as that? 

Pearl. That s quite another thing. 

Ray. But this doesn t answer my question Where is she ? 

Pccu l. I sent for her as soon as I saw you coming. She has 
hardly been down here^a moment all this evening. O, dear! Now 
don t you think Ihi? ajvictim, to be cooped up in this way instead of 
receiving calls as . vre iised to ? 

Ray. You forget that y.our mother died only last summer. 
(J&te); " .. , 

Pearl.- No, I don t- "forget. Pshaw! You re just like LAURA. 
She s only my cousin, and yet she keeps always saying " Poor 
aunt Mary ! lei us not forget how she would have sorrowed for us." 

Ray. (Going towards back}, Well, don t you know she would, too ? 

Pearl. I don t know anything about it. I was always at board 
ing school, and she only saw me once a year. LAUIIA was always 
at home, and it s very different. But don t let s talk about it. To 
die ugh ! I don t want to die till I don t want to live and that ll 
not be for a million of years. Come, tell me where have you been 
to-day ? how many calls did you make ? (Sitting in tete-a-tete). 

Ray. About sixty. 

Pearl. That all ? You re lazy. DEMILT and WINDEL made a 
hundred and thirty, and they say that s nothing. Won t you have 
a cup of coffee ? 

Ray. No. 

Pearl. Ain t you hungry ? 

Ray. No you torment. 

Pearl. 0, dear ! I suppose it s because you re going to be mar 
ried shortly to LAURA. If there s one time that a man s stupid to 
his friends, it s when he s going to be married shortly. Tell me 
whom you saw. (RAY has sauntered off (L.), and is looking over 
cards on table.} Where are you? Oh, you needn t be so impatient 
to see her. Do be agreeable ; sit here and tell me something funny, 
or I shall drop down and fall asleep. 

Ray. (Over her shoulder). You witch ! Why didn t I fall in love 
with you ? 

Pearl. (Laughing.) I don t know ; why didn t you ? 

Ray. You never keep me waiting. (Listening off R.) Ah, that s 
her step ! No. 

Pearl. Do sit down. 

Ray. (Sittwg}. This calling s a great bore ; but as you and 
LAURA insisted I should go through it, I did. First I (Jumping 
up.} I knew it was she. (Goes to door, R. n. : meets LAURA", who 
enters.) How yoXi did k^ep me waiting. (Kisses both her hands.} 

Laura, And you, sir, we have been looking for you since eight 
o clock. 

Ray. O, I was fulfilling y ur orders. I ve been engaged in the 
business of calling, from ten o clock in the morning, till now 
(looks at watch) ten at night. 

Laura. Well, yo&gt;i can make this your last one, for you have 
leave to spend a nice long hour chatting here before you go. Won t 
you have some supper. (Gwsto bell). L. 2 E. on table. 

Ray. 1 don t care if I do I m rather famished. 

Pea/rl. Well, I declare! Did LAURA bring your appetite with 
her ? LAURA rings. 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 6 

Ray. I don t know how it is, but she brings me a relish for every- 
thing in life, I believe. LA.URA, I think if I were to lose you I d 
mope to death and starve to death. 

Laura. Well, that s as much as to say I m a sort of Life Pill. 
(MARTIN enters door L. H.) Supper. (MARTIN exits.} 

Ray. You may joke about it, but it s so. You take the lounge 
(LAURA and PEARL sit on tete-a-tete.) 

Pearl. You ion t want me to go away, do you ? (Putting hei 
head on LAURA S shoulder.) 

Laura. Certainly not. What an idea ! 

Pearl. I m sure you ll have time enough to be alone when yo* 
are married. And I do so want to talk and be talked to. 

Laura. Well, Ray shall talk to you. 

n earl. He was just going to tell me about his calls to-d&y. 

Itdura. That s exactly what we want to hear about. Did yo w 
call on every one we told you to? 

Ray. Every one. There was Miss 

Pearl. Did you go to HENRIETTA LISTON S first ? 

Ray. Yes, and wasn t she dressed ! Speaking of dress, aie you 
going to have your new pink for the Sociable, Tuesday ? 

Laura. Yes, PEARL, and I will do credit to tne occasion, as it AS 
our first for a year. 

Ray. (Taking LAURA S ha^d.) And our last. 

Pearl. Our last ! 

Ray. LAURA S and mine. For when we are married, yo A kn^w, 
we shall be tabooed where maids and bachelors only are pe mitred. 

Pearl. bless me ! (rising.} How do you do Mrs. TRAI JTOR^. 

Laura, (rising) (sadly.) I wish you hadn t said tha&lt; PE/ &L. 
You know the old proverb : " Call a maid by a married na ae." 

Ray. Nonsense 1 (Putting his arm about LAURA S wa st.) It a 
only a few days to wait, and we ll live long enough, y u k ow. 
For nothing but dei .th shall separate us. 

[MARTIN appears at dop, L. 

Pearl. O, here s supper. 

Martin. Beg pardon, Miss. 

Laura. What s the matter? 

Martin. There s a person below, Miss, who says he f b ^usent 
with a bouquet for you, Miss, and must deliver it in per oa 

Laura. For me ? Whose servant is it ? 

Martin. I don t know, Miss, he looks like one of tl ds Soldier 
Messengers red cap and all that. 

Laura. Show him up here. 

[Exit MARTI? , D 2 E. L. 

Pearl. How romantic. So late at night. It s a rivi i h disguise, 
RAY. 

(MARTIN re-enters showing in SNORKEY, with an c /r cj disdain t 
SNOR. has a large bouquet in his hand, and his hat is u tier the stump 
of his right arm, which is cut off. 

Laura. You wished to see me ? 
Snorkey. (L. H.) Are you Miss LAURA COURTLI .&gt; ? 
Laura. Yes. 

Snorkey. Then I was told to give you this. 
Laura. (Taking it from RAY, wlw has crowed L ). and received U 
from SNORKEY.) By whom ? 



6 UXDEE rnu GASLIGHT. 

Snorkcy. Now, that s what I don t know myself! You see I was 
down by the steps of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, taking a light sup 
per off a small toothpick, when a big chap dressed in black came by, 
and says he : " Hallo, come with me if you want to earn a quarter." 
That (confidentially to all) being my very frame of mind, I wrnt up 
one street and down another, till we came here. " Just you take 
this up there," says he, " and ask for Miss LAUIIA CpURTLAltD, and 
give it to her and no one else." 

Laura. It is some folly of our late visitors 

Snorkey. I m one of the Soldier Messengers, Miss. We take to 
it very well, considering we had so little running in Uncle Sam s 
service. 

Ray. (As SNOR. i-s going L.) Stop a moment, my man. Wera 
you not one of the Twenty-second s recruits ? 

Snorkey. Yes, Captain ; I remember you joined us in New York, 
and left us at Washington. Real fighting wasn t funny, you 
thought, and I began to think so too at Fredericksburg. 
Hay. Poor devil. 

Snorkey. There was a South Carolina gentleman took such a 
fancy to me at Fredericksburg! Wouldn t have no denial, cut off 
my arm to remember me by ; he was very fond of me. I wasn t any 
use to Uncle Sam then, so I came home, put a red band round my 
blue cap, and with my empty sleeve, as a charactei from my last 
place, sot up for light porter and general messenger. All orders 
executed with neatness and dispatch. 
Pearl. And Uncle Sam has forgotten you. 

Snorkey. Ah ! Miss, don t blame Uncle Sam for that, he s got 
such a big family to look after, I can t find fault if he don t happen 
to remember all us poor stumps of fellows. 
Ray. (L. n.) So it seems. 

Laura, (c.) (PEARL takes bouquet.} Poor fellow! (To servant.) 
MARTIN, be sure and give him a glass of wine before he goes. 

Snorksy. (L. c.) I m much obliged, Miss but I don t think it 
would be good for me on an empty stomach after fasting all day. 
; Laura. Well, MARTIN shall find you some supper, too. 

Snorkey. Is this MARTIN ? What a nice young man. Mayn t, 
lie have a drop of something, too ? lie must have caught cold let 
ting me in, he has got such a dreadful stiffness in the back of his 
neck. [MARTIN exit. 

Ray. (Giving penciled address.) Call on me at this place to- 
morrow, and you shan t regret it. 

Snorkcy All right, Cap n ! I havn t forgot the Army Regula 
tions about punctuality and promotion. Ladies, if ever either of 
you should want a Light Porter, think of JOE SNORKEY wages no 
objection. [Exit L. n. door. 

I * earl, (c.) (Who has been examining the bouquet.) O! Laura, 
only look here s a billet-doux ! 

JRai/. Nonsense ! Crazy head ! Who would dare (takes bouquet) 
a letter ! (Takes a paper from bouquet.) 
Laura. A letter ? 
Pearl. I am crazy am I ? 

Ray. (Reads superscription) "For Miss LADRA COURTLAND. 
Confidential." 

Laura. (Laughs.) Ha! Ha! from some goose who hrs made 
one call too many to-day. Read it, RAY (Offering letter.) 



DTSTDKE THE GASLIGHT. 7 

Hay. " Dear LAURA (Refusing the letter, and going to 

PEARL.) 

Laura. (Looks at it a moment, when the whole expression of face 
changes. Then reads slowly and deliberately. RAY down R. c. with 
PEARL.) " I respectfully beg you to grant me the favor of an inter 
view to-night. I have waited until your company retired. I am 
wa&lt;tin(j across the street, now" 

Peart. (Runs to window.) A tall man in black is just walking 
away. 

Laura. "If you will have the door opened as soon as you get this, 
I will step over ; if you dorft^ I will ring ; under all circumstan 
ces I will get in. " There is no need to sign my name; you will re 
member me as the strange man whom you once saw talking with 
your mother in the parloi\ and who frightened you so much. 1 1 What 
can be the meaning of this ? PEAKL no (goes to bell on table 
L. H., and rings ) 

Ray. LAURA, you 

Laura. Ask me nothing. I will tell you by-and-by. 

[Enter MARTIN, L. door. 

Martin. Missit 

Laura. Admit no one till you bring me the name. 

Martin. I \vas about to tell you, Miss, that a strange man haa 
forced himself in at the door and asks to see you, but will give no 
name. 

Rat/. Kick the rascal out ! [Cross to L. 

Pearl Oh ! don t let him come here. 

Martin. He s a very strange-looking person, Miss. 

Ray. I ll find out what this means ! (Is going to door L. when 
BYXE appears at it smiling and bowing.) 

Byke. (L. H.) I ll spare you the trouble, if you ll hear me a 
minute. 

Ray. (L. c.) (violently.) Who are you, fellow ? 

Byke. Don t, I beg you. Don t speak so crossly ; I might answer 
back then you d kick me out and you d never forgive yourself 
for it as long as I lived. 

Ray. Your business ? Come ! Speak quickly and begone. 

Byke. (Coming down L.) Business ! on this happy day ! I came 

for pleasure to see Miss COURTLAND, my little pupil grown so 

only think, sir ! I knew her when she was only a little child 

I taught her music she was so mu.-ical and so beautiful 1 

adored her, and her mother told me I needn t come again But I 
did and her mother was glad to see me. Wasn t she, little pupil ? 
(to LAURA, who is pale with terror, leaning on PEARL. RAY c., 
BYKE L.) and begged me DO stay but I said no I d call occasion 
ally to see my dear little pupil, and to receive any trifling contri 
bution her mother might give me. Won t you shake hands, little 
pupil ? (Advances suddenly, when RAY grasps him by the collar-~ 
BYKE glares at him a moment. Then, quickly as before?) Don t 1 
please, don t ! The stuff is old, and I ve no other. 

Ray. The fellow s drunk ! Leave the house. 

Byke. What ! after sending that touching bouquet ? 

Laura. It was you, then ? I knew it. 

Byke. You see she knows me. Ah ! memory how it blooms agaia 
where the plough of time has passed. 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Laura. Leave tliis house at once. 

Byke. Not until I have spoken to you. 

Rag. (Seizing him.} You miserable rascal. 

Byke. Don t, pray don t ! I weigh a hundred and ninety -r.gni 
pounds, and if you attempt to throw me about you ll strain yotjfcelf 

Laura. (Crossing) Go. To-morrow in the morning I will sec 
you. 

Byke. Thanks! I thank you, Miss, for your forbearance. (T 
RAY.) I am also obliged to you, sir, for not throwing me out at ths 
window. I am indeed. I wish you good night, and many happy re 
turns of the day. (Bows and turns to go. Then familiarly to ser&gt; 
vant.) Many calls to-day, John ? {Exit L. 

Ray. (Runs to LAURA, who is pale.} 

Laura, (Pointing after BYKE.) See that he goes. 

[Exit BAY, L. door 

Laura. (Taking loth of PEARL S hands in her own.) Pearl, he 
must know everything. 

Pearl. O, dear I this is dreadful ! I do hate scenes. 

Laura. He must know everything, I tell you ; and you must re 
late all. He will question he will ponder leave him nothing to 
ask. 

Pearl. If you wish it, but 

Laura. I desire it ; speak of me as you will but tell him the 
truth. (RAY enters hastily, L.) Stay with her. Don t follow me. 

[Exit R. 

Ray. (Down R. H.) Pearl, what does this mean. 

Pearl. O, it s only a little cloud that I want to clear up for you. 

Ray. Cloud how? where? 

Pearl. Don t I tell you I am going to tell you. Sit down here 
by me. (She sinks into tete-a-tete, c.) 

Ray. (Promenading.) He said he knew her. And she gave him 
an interview for to-morrow. That drunken wretch 

Pearl. Do sit down. I can never speak while you are walking 
about so. (Gets up, brings him to a chair, R. H. and makes him sit-) 
Sit by me, won t you ? for I ve got something strange to tell you. 

Ray. You serious ! I d as soon expect to see the lightning tamed. 
Well, I listen. 

Pearl. I have something to say to you, RAY, which you must 
settle with your own heart. You love LAURA, do you not ? 

Ray. PEARL, I do more, I adore her. I adore the very air that she 
breathes. I will never be happy without her. I can swear that. 

Pearl. LAURA is twenty now. How do you think she looked when 
I first saw her ? 

Ray. Were you at home when she first came into this earthly 
sphere ? 

Pea* Tea. 

Ray. Well then, I suppose she looked very small and very pink. 

Pearl. She was covered with rags, barefooted, unkempt, crying 
and six years old. 

Ray. (Shocked.) Explain. 

Pearl. One night father and mother were going to the Opera 
When they were crossing Broadway, the usual crowd of children 
accosted theni for alms. As mother felt in her pocket for some 
change, her fingers touched a cold and trembling hand which had 
clutched her purse. 



TTNDEfc THE GASLIG1 f. 

Ray. A pickpocket I Well. 

Pearl. This hand my mother grasped IF her own, and so tight 
ly that a small, feeble voice uttered an exclamation of pain. Mother 
looked down, and there beside her was a little ragged girl. 

Ray. The thief. 

Pearl. Yes, but a thief hardly six years old, with a face like an 
angel s. " Stop ! " said my mother. " What are you doing ? " 
" Trying to steal," said the child. " Don t you know that it s wick 
ed to do so ? " asked my father. " No," said the girl, " but it s dread- A 
ful to be hungry/ " Who told you to steal ? " asked my mother. ~* 
" She there ! " said the child, pointing to a squalid woman in a 
doorway opposite, who fled suddenly do\vn the street. "That ia 
OLD JUDAS," said the girl. 

Ray. OLD JUDAS. What a name-! But how does this story in 
terest us ? 

Pearl. This child was LAURA. My father was about to let her 
go unharmed but my mother said " No, it is not enough. We have 
a duty to perform, even to her," and acting on a sudden impulse, 
took her to our home. On being questioned there, the child seemed 
to have no recollection, save of misery and blows. My mother per 
suaded father, and the girl was sent to a country clergyman s for 
instruction, and there she remained for several years. 

Ray. PEARL, you are joking with me. 

Pearl. In beauty, and accomplishments, and dignity, LAURA 
(as mother named her) exceeded every girl of her age. In grati 
tude she was all that father could have wished. She was intro 
duced as you know, into society as my cousin, and no one dreams c ( 
her origin. 

Ray. (Starting np). LAURA, an outcast a thief! 

Pearl. (Kiting). No, that is what she might have been. 

Ray. And this man to-night. 

Pearl. All I know about him is, that four years ago this man 
came with a cruel looking woman, to see mother. There was a 
fearful scene between them, for LAURA and I sat trembling on the 
stairs, and overheard some awful words. At last they went away, 
the man putting money into his pocket as he left. 

Ray. But who were they ? 

Pearl. LAURA never told me, and mother would not. But, of course, 
they must have been LAURA S father and mother. (RAY sinka on 
(hair as if overcome.) 

Pearl. Mother made me promise never to tell anybody this, and 
you would have known nothing had not LAURA made me speak. 
You see, she would not conceal anything from you. ( Going to him.) 
RAY, why don t you speak shall I go after LAURA ? Shall I tell 
her to come to you? Why don t you answer? (Going.} I ll go 
and tell her you want to see her. (Pausing as she goes R.) I m going 
to send her to you, RAY. 

[ Goes off R. still looking back at him. 

7?a?/. (Starting up.) What a frightful story. LAURA COURTLAND 
a thief! A drunken wretch who knows her history, and a squalid 
beggar woman who can claim her at any moment as their child. 
And I was about to marry her. Yes, and I love her. But what 
would my mother think ? My friends ? Society ? No no no I 
cannot think of it. I will write her I will tell her pshaw ! sha 
knows o f course that I cannot wed her now ! (Goes to the tible L. u. 



10 UXDER THE GASLIGHT. 

E.) Here is paper. (Sits.) What am I about to do ? What will 
be said of me ? Bat 1 owe a duty to myself to society I must 
perform it. ( Writes.) " LAURA, / have heard &lt;&gt;f all from your sister." 
What have I said (crosses out last word) " from PEARL. You know 
thai 1 love you, but my mother will demand of me a wife who will not blush 
to own her kindred, and who is not the daughter of obscurity and crime" 
It is just ; it is I who have been deceived. (Folds letter and addresses 
if). I will leave it for her. (I nts on light overcoat, which hangs on 
chair at back.) I must go before she returns. Her step too late ! 
(Crams the letter into pjcket of overcoat. LAURA enters R. H.) 

Laura. (Gently). RAT. 

Ray. Miss Miss CoURTLAND. (LAURA looks at him a moment, 
smiles and then crosses C. icithout farther noticing him, and sits down on 
tete-a-tete^ What have I said ? What ought" I to have said ? (// 
takes a step towards her she rises, without looking at him goes to window- 
looks out, then looks over books on table R. H.) 

Ray. LAURA I 

Laura. Pshaw, where is my book ? 

Ray. What book do you want, LAURA.? 

Laura. Sir. 

JRay. (Repnhed.) Oh ! (pause) I ve been a fool. How lovely she 
looks. (He follows her mechanically to table L.) Can I find it for you? 
[LAURA picks up a book and reseats herself. 

Laura. Don t trouble yourself I beg. 

Ray. (Coming forward and leaning over her seat.) LAURA. 

Laura. ( Without lifting her head) Well. 

Ray. (Toiling with her hair}. Look at me. 

Laura. (Turns round and looks full at him.) 

Rfty. No, no, not that way ; as you used to. You act as if I were 
a stranger. 

Lanra. They are only strangers who call me Miss COURTLAND. 
(Resumes reading.} 

Ray. Forgive me, I beg you to forgive me. (Coming round and 
sittting beside her.} I was mad it was so sudden this miserable 
story but I don t care what they say. O ! do listen to me. I 
thought you hated reading. 

Lanra. I often wish that I were uglyr wretched and repulsive, 
like the heroine in this story. (Seats herself.) 

Ray. (Behind her.) Why? 

Laura. Because, then I could tell who really loved me. 

Ray. And don t you know ? 

Laura. No ; 1 do not. 

Ray. Well, I know. 

Laura. Do tell me then, please. 

Ray. He has told you so himself a hundred times. 

Laura. You. 

Ray. I. 

Laura. (Laughing heartily at him, then, seriously.) How happy 
must those women be, who are poor, and friendless, and plain, when 
seme true heart comes and says : I wish to marry you. 

Ray. LAURA, you act very fcjrangely to-night. 

Laura. Will you put this book away ? 

Ray. (Throws it on table.) There LAURA. (Sec is himself beside her,) 

Laura. (Rising.) There s PEARL calling me. 

Rfitj. (R,xing an.d taking h*rh : id.) LAUHA, why don t you let me 
speak to you. 



TTNDEE THE GASLIGHT. 11 

Laura. About what ? 

Kay. About my love. 

Laura. For whom V Not me. This is only marriage and giving 
In marriage. I hate the very word. 

Kay. You did not think so once. 

Laura. I wish I had. I am frightened now ; I begin to under 
stand myself better. 

Ray. And I am frightened because I understand you less. 

Laura. Do not try to ; good night. ( Up R. c. stops by door as 
she is going out,) good night Mr. TRAFFORD. 

[Exit laughing, R. 2 E. 

Ray. I ve been an ass. No, I wrong that noble animal. The 
ass recognized the angel, and I, like Balaam, was blind. But I see 
now. After all what have I to fear? (Takes letter from pocket.) 
No one knows of this, (puts it in his pocket again.) Let things go on ; 
we ll be married, go straight to Europe, and live there ten years. 
That s the way we ll fix it. 

(Exit L. 2 E. Scene closes in. 

BCENE II. (1st Grooves) The Gentlemen s coat-room at DEL~ 
MOXICO S opening (c.)for hat and coat. Chairs (L. 
n.) Pier-glass on flat. 

(Enter WINDEL and DEMILT muffled, and with umbrellas L. 2 E. 
They proceed to disrobe.) 

Dem. Phew ! wet as the deuce, and cold, too. There ll be no 
body here. 

Wind. It s an awful night. The rooms are almost empty. 

Dem. SAM ! Where the dickens is that darkey ? (Enter &&ML K. 
fetching in a chair, and boot-black, box and brush) 

Sam. Here, sail. 

Dem. (Sitting in chair.) Hurry up with my boots. Who s here? 

Sam. Berry few gemman, sah ; only lebben overcoats and ten 
overshoes. Bless de Lord dem overshoes is spilin the polishin bu- 



Dew. Look out and don t give me any knocks. 

Wind. (Handing in his coat at window and getting check for it.) I 
wonder if the COURTLAND girls have come yet. 

Dem. What did LAURA COURTLAND ever see in TRAFFORD to 
fall in love with ? The VAN DAM party is my fancy. 

Wind. (Brushing his hair at glass.) She s ten years older than 
you, and has a husband. 

Dem. Yes, a fine old banker, on whom sho can draw for every 
thing but attention and affection. She has to get that by her own 
business tact. 

(Other parties enter, exchange good-nights, and deposit their 
coats ; some go out at once, some arrange themselves at glass.) 

Dem. . That ll do, SAM, take my coat. (Enter RAY, L. 1 E.) 

Wind, Hallo! TRAFFORD, this is a night, ain t it? Have tho 
COURTLANDS come ? 

JRav. Not with me. Here, SAM, take my coat. (Ills coat is pulled 
Off bi, SAM, and four Idlers drop out.) Stupid. 

Dem. Save the pieces. Mind the lovo letters. 



12 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Ray. ( Picking them up.} Look out well next time. There s that 
cursed letter I was going to send to LAURA. Confound it, I must 
destroy it when I go home. (Puts letters back in overcoat pocket.) 
(llAY gets his boots touched up.) 

J)em. I say, TRAFFORD, vvhat ll you take, and let a fellow read 
those ? WINDEL, I guess if the girls could get into the cloak-room, 
it would be better than the dead-letter office. What a time they d 
have ! Are you ready ? 

Wind. What s the use of hurrying ? There s no life in the party 
till LAURA COURTLAND comes. By Jove, TRAFFORD ! you re in 
luck. She s the prettiest girl in New York. 

Ray. And the best. (March music heard.) 

Dem. There s the march music; let s go. (Gets a final brush a 
they all go off A 1 E.) 

Ray. Come along. \Exunt. 

Sam. (Picking up a letter dropped from RAY S pocket.) Dere s 
anoder of dem billy dooses ; wonder if it am Mist TRAFFORD S. 
Eh, golly ! muen t mix dem gentlemen s letters, musn t mix em 
nohow, or an oberruling providence wouldn t be able to stop fight- 
ing in dis city for de nex month. 

[Exit, carrying a chair, R. 1 E. 

(Scene draws off to dance music.) 

( Wait till change of music before change of So.) 



SCENE III. The Blue Room at Delmonico s. Waltz-music a$ 
the Scene opens. Waltzers in motion. PEARL is 
dancing with Mrs. VAN DAM. 

(Enter TRAFFORD, DEMELT, and WINDEL, R. L. R.) 

Pearl. There s RAY. I ve had enough; I want to speak with 
him. (Bursts away from Mrs. VAN D., runs up to TRAFFORD. Dfi 
MILT goes up to Mrs. VAN D.) 

Pearl. (To RAY.) You lazy fellow, where have you been ? 

JDem. You re not tired, are you ? I 

Mrs. V. I).. I feel as fresh as a daisy. 

Dem. Have a waltz with me. ( Waltz music, piano, as they dance, 
WINDEL goes to SUE EARLIE.) 

Hay. (Coming down with PEARL.) Where s LAURA? 

Pearl. She wasn t ready, and I was dying to come. Been fixed 
eince eight o clock ; so I came with SUE EARLIE. So you made it 
up with LAURA. 

Ray. Yes. Don t say anything more about the horrid subject. 
We ve made it all up. But what on earth keeps her to-night ? It s 
eleven already. (Looking at watch.) Confound it, I tremble every 
moment she s out of my sight. I fear that terrible man and hia 
secret. 

Mrs. V. D. (Coming up with DEMILT.) TRAFFORD, you look very- 
uneasy. What s the matter ? 

Ray. O, nothing. I think I ought to go for LAU:IA. I will, too. 
(Servant passes at back.) Here! go up stairs for my overcoat. (Gives 
the man a card, and he goes o/O 

Mrs. V. D. Nonsense ! She ll Le here in good time. You shan t 
It-uve us Hold him, PEARL We want a nine-pin quadrille: we 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 13 

haven t half enough gentlemen. Come, be jolly about it. Yon 
lovers are always afraid some one will carry your girls away. 

Ray. ( Uttcasy.) I ? I m not afraid. 

Pearl. Come, come ! I never saw such a restless fellow. 

(SERVANT enters with coat, C.) 

SERVANT. Here s your coat, sir. 

Mrs. Van D. Give it to me. I m determined you shan t go. 
( Takes coat carelessly.) I ll make you a promise if LAURA isn t here 
in fifteen minutes you shall have your coat, and may go for her. 

Ray, Well, I suppose I ll have to wait. 

Mrs Van D, There ; take him off, PEARL. (RAT goes np with 
PEARL. To SERVANT.) Here take this back. Flings coat to SER 
VANT. As she does so, letters drop from it.) Well, there s a mess 
(SUE EARLIE and another lady run forward and pick up letters?) Love 
letters, of course 1 (Smelling t/iem.) Perfumed to suffocation. 

Sue JEarlie. Here s one for LAURA. It s unsealed and not deliv 
ered. 

Mrs. Van D. (Tremolo waltz music.) A fair prize! Let s see it. 
(Music. Takes and opens it. Puts OH eye-glasses and read*.) 
" Laura" Well, come I That s cool for a lover. " I have heard all 

from " something scratched out ah ! " Your sister, PEARL 

Your obscure origin terrible family connexions the secret of the 
tie which binds you to a drunken wretch My mother, Society will 
demand of me a wife who will not blush to own her kindred, or 
start at the name of outcast and thief! 

" Signed, RAT TRAFFORD." 

(All stand speechless and look at eacli other. All this time th6 
rest have been dancing.) 

Sue fiarlic. What can it mean? 

Mrs. Van D. It means that the rumors of ten years ago are prov 
en. It was then suspected that the girl whom Mrs. COURTLAND 
brought every year from some unnamed place in the country, and 
introduced to everybody as her niece, was an impostor, which that 
foolish woman, in a freak of generosity, was thrusting upon society. 
The rumors died out for want of proof and before LAURA S beauty 
and dignity but now they are confirmed. She is some beggar s 
child. 

Sue Earlie. What do you think we ought to do ? (TRAFFORD 
surrenders PEARL to DEMILT, and comes down.) 

Mrs. Van 1). Tell it tell it everywhere, of course. The best 
blood of New York is insulted by the girl s - presence. (TRAFFORD 
coining down.) 

Ray. (R. H.) What have you three girls got your heads togeth 
er for ? Some conspiracy, I know. 

Mrs. Van D. (To ladies.) Go girls tell it everywhere. 

Ray. (As thi ladies distribute themselves about the groups.) What is 
it all about ? Your face is like a portrait of mystery. 

Mrs. Van D. (Shewing letter.) Look at this, and tell me what it 
means. 

Ray. ( Quickly ) Where did you get this ? 

Mrs. Van D It is you who must answer and Society that will 
question. So LAURA*is not a COURTLAND ? 

Ray. (Overcome.) You know, then, 

Mrs. Van D. Everything; and will you marry this creature! 
You cannot. Society will not permit your sacrifice. 



14 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Jlai/. This is not your business. Give me that letter. 

Mrs. Van D. Certainly ; take it. But let me say one w r&gt;rd its 
contents are known. In an hour every tongue will question you 
about this secret, every eye will inquire. 

Ray. I implore you I Do not breathe a word for her sake. Sht 
turns scornfully away.) 

Mrs. Van D. The secret s not mine. 

Unit. Who knows it ? 

Mrs. Van D. Look ! (Points to others who are grouped about 
whispering and motioning towards RAY. PEARL enters here s., 
and spealcs to lady and gents L. c.) 

Ray. ( Wildly.} What will they do ? 

Mrs. Van D. Expose her ! Expel her from society in which she 
is an intruder ! 

Ray. You dare not ! 

[PEARL comes forward L. 

Pearl. O, RAY ! What is the meaning of this ? 

Ray. (Bitterly.} It means that society is a terrible avenger of 
insult. Have you ever heard of the Siberian wolves ? When one 
of the pack falls through weakness, the others devour him. It is 
not an elegant comparison but there is something wolfish in soci 
ety. LAURA has mocked it with a pretence, and society, which is 
made up of pretences, will bitterly resent the mockery, 

Mrs. Van I). Very good ! This handsome thief has stolen your 
breeding as well as your brains, I see. 

Ray. If you speak a word against her, I will say that what you 
utter is a lie 1 

Mrs. Van D. As you please, we will be silent. But you will find 
that the world speaks most forcibly when it utters no sound. 

Pearl. O, go and prevent her coming here. 

Rdtf. That I can do, (going up hastily sees LAURA entering at C. D.) 
Too late. ( He retreat* R. c ) 

Mrs. Van D. Come girls ! Let us look after our things. They 
are no longer safe when such an accomplished thief enters. 

(Music low as LAURA enters, continues while all except PEARL 
cwdHZA.? peas out, eyeing her superciliously. LAURA c. PEARL R.) 

Pearl. RAY, RAY, why do you not come to her? 

Mrs. Van D. (Up c. of stage, surrounded by others} Are you no 
coming with us TR AFFORD ? 

Pearl. ( To LAURA.) Let us go home. 

Laura. No ; stay with him., (pointing toRAY, who has held off".) He 
shall not suffer the disgrace long! (About to faint, RAY ri isfot- 
j she proudly waves him away.) It is Heaven s own blow. 

PICTURE Quick Curtain, 
K. RAY. L \UIIA AND PEABL, c. Party at back. 



ACT II. 

(Green Cl.th down.") 

SCENE I. Interior of a Basement. Street and railings seen 
through window at back. Entrance to F. from D. F. 
L. IT. Stove with long pipe in fire-place, R. u. E. Tabh 
between two windows at back, with flowers, &c. 
Humble furniture. Table c. three chairs. Closet u. 
E. L. n. 

PEACHBLOSSOM is discovered polishing stove R. n. a slip-shod 
girl a la Fanchon. 

SONG PEACH : 

A lordly knight and alovety dame, were walking in the meadow, 

}5ut a jealous rival creeping came a-watching in the shadow; 

They heeded not, but he whet his knife and dogg d them in the shadow. 

The knight was brave, and the dame was true, the rival fared but badly; 

For the knight he drew and ran him through, and left him groaning sadly ; 

The knight and dame soon wedded were, with bells a-chiming gladly. 

Peach, (Talking while working?) The stove won t shine. It s the 
fault of the polish I know. That boy that comes here, just fills the 
bottles with mud, and calls it stove polish. Only let me catch him. 
Ah ! Ah ! (threatning gesture with brush.) I declare I d give it up if 
I didn t want to make everything look smart, before Miss NINA 
comes in. Miss NINA is the only friend I ever had, since I ran 
away from MOTHER JUDAS. I wonder where old JUDAS is now ? I 
know she s drunk ; she always was ; perhaps that s why she never 
tried to find out what became of me. If she did she could not tako 
me away. Miss NINA begged me off a policeman. I belong to 
her. I wonder why she ain t got any other friends ? She s awful 
mysterious. Tells me never to let any strangers see her. She s 
afraid of somebody, I know. It looks just as if she was hiding. I 
thought only bad girls, such as I, had to hide. If I was good and 
pretty like her, I wouldn t hide from the President. (Still polish- 
ing.] (JUDAS appear* at window with basket of ornaments, &c.) 

Judas. Hum ! Is your ma in my dear ? 

Peach. (Starting.} Oh ! (aside,.} Old JUDAS ! She s fo\md me out 
at last. No she li aint, or she d have got me by the hair before she 
epoke. That s her way. 

Judas. (Coming in at door. PEACH keeps her back toward* her.) 
Any old clothes to change for chany, my dear ? Where s your ma s 
old skirts and shawls, my pet. Get em quick before mother comes 
in, and I ll give you a beautiful chany mug or a tea-pot for them. 
Come here, my ducky eee the pretty (recognizes PEACH.) Eh 1 
why you jail-bird, what are you doing here ? Are you sneakin it ? 
Answer me, or I ll knock your head agin the wall. (Catches )icr by 
the hair.) 

Pe^di. You just leave me be? I m honest I am ! I m good. 

Jndas. You re gocd ? Where s my shoe? I ll take the goodness 
out o you. 

15) 



16 TTXDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Peach. Oh, ok ! please don t beav, me. I ain t good. I m only 
trying to be. 

Judas. You re only trying to be, eh ? Trying to be good, and 
here s me as was a-weeping every night, thinking as you was sent 
up for six months. Who re you living with you ain t a-keeping 
house, are you? 

Peach. I m living with Miss NlNA. 

Judas. NINA, what s she, concert-saloon girl ? 

Peach. No, she s a lady. 

Judas. A lady and have such baggage as you about. Where s 
my shoe, I ll make you speak the truth. 

Peach. I don t know what she is. She met me when the police 
was taking me up for loafin down Hudson Street, and she begged 
me off. 

Judas. Has she any money ? 

Peach. No, she s poor. 

Judas. Any nice clothes ? 

Peach. O, she s got good clothes. 

Judas. Where are they ? 

Peach. Locked up, and she s got the key. 

Judas. You re lying, I see it in your eye. You re always shame 
faced when you are telling the truth, and now you re as bold as 
brass. Where s my shoe ? (making a dash at her.) 

Peach. (Shouting.) There s MlSS NlNA (as if curtseying to some 
one behind JUDAS.) Good morning, miss. 

Judas. (Changing her ton f..) Ah ! my pretty dear ! What a good 
lady to take you in and give you a home. ( Turns and discovers the 
deception in a rage.) You hussy, (PEACH retreats) wait till I get 
you in my clutches again, my lady ; and it won t be long. Miss 
NINA takes care of you, does she. Who will take care of her ? 
Let her look to it. (LAURA enters D. F. plainly dressed, at back.) 
Beg pardon, Miss, I just called to see if you had any old clothes 
you d like to exchange. 

Laura. No, I don t want anything, my good woman. 
Judas. {Eyeing her sharply and going to door.) That s her I d know 
her anywheres ! (Malicious glance, and exit.) 

Laura. You ve been very good this morning, BLOSSOM. The 
room is as nice as I could wish. 

Peach. Please m, I tried because you are so good to me. 
(LAURA taking off her shawl and things.) Shall I sweep out the airy i 
(LAURA docs not answer.) I guess I d better then she ll be alone, 
as she loves to bo. (Takes broom and exit, D. F.) 

Laura (Solos. Opening cl package and taking out photographs.) No 
pay yet for coloring, till I have practiced a week longer. Then I 
shall have all the work I can do. They say at the photographer s I 
color well, and the best pictures will be given me. The best ! 
Already I have had beneath my brush so many faces that I know, 
friends of the old days. The silent eyes seem to wonder at me for 
bringing them to this strange and lowly home. (Picking up letter* 
from tatte.) Letters; ah! answers to my advertisement for em 
ployment. No, only a circular " To the lady of this house." What s 
that ! (Starting) only BLOSSOM sweeping. Every time there is a 
noise I dread the entrance of some one that knows me. But they 
could never find me in New York, I left them all too secretly and 
suddenly. None of them can expect I would have descended te 



THE GASLIGHT. l 

this. Bat it te natural, everything will find its level, i sprang 
from poverty, and I return to it. POOH PEARL. How she must 
have wondered the next morning LAURA gone? But three 
months have passed, and they have forgotten me. RAY will cheer 
her. ( Wrangling outside, PEACHBLOSSOM bursts in dragging BERMU 
DAS, with hi a professional tape, pins, blacking and baxkels, D. F. 

Peach. Here he is m m. 

Ber. Leave go, I tell yer, or I ll make yer. 

Laura. What is the matter ? 

Peach. He s the boy that sold me that stove polish what isn t 
stove polish. 

Ber. What is it then s-a-a-y ? 

Peach. It s mud ! it s mud at ten pence a bottle. 

Ber. Ah ! Where could I get mud ? Ain t the streets clean t 
Mud s dearer than stove polish now. 

Peach. And your matches is wet, and your pins won t stick, and 
your shoe-strings is rotten, there now ! 

Ber. Well, how am I to live ; it ain t my fault, it s the taxes. 
Ain t I got to pay my income tax, and how am I to pay it if I gives 
you your money s worth ? Do you think I m Stewart Sa-a-y ? 

Laura. Do let the boy alone, BLOSSOM. Send him away. (Enter 
PEANUTS at door flat.} 

Peanuts. Extra! Hollo, BERMUDAS! how s your sister? Pa 
pers, Miss. Extra ! Revolution in Mexico ! 

Laura. Dear, dear, this is the way I m worried from morning till 
night. 

Ber. Here, just you get out ! This is my beat. 

Peanuts. Veil, I ain t blacking or hairpins now, I m papers 
How m I hurting you ? 

Ber. Veil, I m papers at four o clock, and this is my beat. Take 
care of me, I m in training for a fight. I m a bruiser, I am. 

Peanuts. Hold yer jaw. (theyjfight.) 

Peach. (Beats them with broom.} Get out with you, Both of you. 
(Grand escapade and exit cfloys. D. F.) 

Laura. Don t let be troubled in this way again. Have you got 
the things for dinner ? 

Peach. Lor, no, miss ! It s twelve o clock, and I forgot ! 

(PEACH gets shairl, l)ig bonnet from hooks on the wall, basket 
from closet, while LAURA opens her pocket-look for money.} 

Laura. What did we have for dinner yesterday, BLOSSOM ? 

Peach. Beefsteak, m. Let s have some leg o mutton to-day. 
We ve rvevei had that. 

Laura. But I don t know how to cook it. Do ycu ? 

Pfdch. No, but I d just slap it on, and it s SL re to como out 
right. 

Laur. Slap it on what ? 

Peach. The gridiron. 

Laura. (Giving money} No, we d better not try a log of mutton 
to-day. Get some lamb chops, we know how to manage them. 

Peach. (As she is going.} Taters, as usual, mum? 

Laura. Yes ; and stop BLOSSOM while you re buying the chops, 
iust ask the butcher off hand you know how "tie would cook a 
leg of mutton, if he were going to eat it himself!- RS if you wanted 
to know for yourself. 

Peach. Yes in but I m sure it s just as good broiled a fried. 

\Exit D. F. 



18 UNDEK THE GASLIGHT. 

Laura. Now to be cook. (Law hiny.) " The Tuesday Sociable 
ought to seo me now. Artist in the morning, cook at noon, artist 
iu the afternoon. (Sorkey raps at the door F. and enters?) 

Snorkct;. (With letter.} Beg pardon, is there anybody here as an 
swers to the name of A. B. C. ? 

Laura. (Aside.) My advertisement for work. Yes, give it to 
me. 

Snorkcy. (Stewy Jier face.) If I d been taking something this 
morning, I d say that I d seen that face in a different sort of place 
fiom this. 

Laura.. Is there anything to pay ? Why do you wait ? 

tinorkey. Nothing, Miss. It s all right. (Going and aside.) 
But it ain t all right, SNORKEY, old boy 1 (Goes out after looking 
at her, stops at window, and gazes in.) 

Laura. ( Without noticing him, opening letter.) Yes, an answer 
to my advertisement. (Reads.) To A. B. C. : " Your advertise 
ment promises that you are a good linguist^ and can, teach chil 
dren, of any age. I have two daughters for whom I wish to engage 
your services while on a tour of Europe. Call at seven o clock, 
this evening, at No. 207 W. Mt/i Street. ANNERSLEY." Hope at 
last a home, and in another land soon. I was &ure the clouds 
would not always be black above uie ! (Kisses letter. 
re-entering.) 

Snorkei/. Miss, I say, Miss. (LAURA starts. ) Sh 

Laura. What do you want ? 



Only one word and perhaps it may be of service to 
you. I d do anything to serve you. 

Laura. And why me ? 

Snorkey. I m a blunt fellow, Miss, but I hope my way don t of 
fend. Ain t you the lady that I brought a bouquet to on New Year s 
night not here, but in a big house, all bright and rich and who 
was so kind to a poor soldier ? 

, Laura. (Faint and leaning against chair.) Whoever you may be, 
promise to tell no one you saw me here. 

Snorkey. No fear, Miss ! I promise. 

Laura. Sacredly ! 

Siwrkey. No need to do more than promise, Miss I keeps my 
word. I promised Uncle Sam I d stick to the flag though they 
tore my arm off, and by darnation I stuck. I don t want to tell o& 
you Miss. I want to tell on some one else. 

Laura. What do you mean ? 

Sticrkey. They re looking for you 

Laura. Who ? 

Snorkey. BYKE. (LAURA utters a loud cry and sinks on chair.} 
He s on it day and night. I ve got his money in my pocket now, 
and you ve got his letter in your hand this minute. 

(LAURA drops the letter in dist/iay. 

Laura. This ? 

Snorkey. Yes, it his writin looks like a woman s, don t it? 
Lord! the snuff that man s up to, would make BAENUM sneez6 
his head off. He s kept me in hand, cause he thinks I know you, 
having seen you that onct&gt;. Every day he reads the advertise 
ments, and picks out a dozen or so and says to me : " SNORKEY, 
that s like my little pot," and then he sits down and answers them, 



U3!lER THE GASLIGHT. 19 

&ncl gets the advertisers to make appointments with him , which he 
keeps regnlarl} 7 , and regularly comes back cussing at his ill luck. 
See here Miss* I ve a bundle of answers to deliver, as usual, to 
advertisers. I calls em BYKE S Target Practice, and this time, you 
see, he s accidentally hit the mark. 

Laura. For Heaven s sake do not betray me to him! I ve got 
very little money, I earn it hardly ; but take it, take it and sav 
de. {Offers tuoney.) 

Snorkei/. No, Miss ; not a cent of it. Though BYKE is a devil, 
and would kick me hard if he thought I would betray him. 

Laura. I don t want you to suffer for my sake, take the money. 

Snorkey. No, I stood up to be shot at for thirteen dollars a 
month, and I can take my chances of a kickin for nothing. But 
BYKE ain t the only one Miss, there s another s looking for you. 

Laura. (Her look of joy cltanyhig to fear.} Another ! Who ? 

Snorkey. (Approaching smilingly find conjidenlial .} MR. TRAFFORD. 
(LAURA turns a*ide despairingly 1) He s been at me every day for 
more than six weeks. " SNORKEY " says he, " do you remember that 
beautiful young lady you brought the bouquet to on New Year s 
night ?" " Well," says I, " Capt n, the young lady I slightly disre- 
member, but the cakes and wine I got there that night I shall 
never forget." " Search for that young lady," says he, " and when 
you find her " . 

Laura. No, no, no ; not even he must know. Do you hear 
not he not anyone. You have served them well ; serve me and 
be silent. 

Snorkey. Just as you please, Miss, but I hate to serve you by 

gutting your friends off the track it don t seem natural BYKE I 
ou t mind ; but the Capt n wouldn t do you any harm. Just let 
me give him a bit of a hint. (LAURA makes an entreating gesture.) 
Well I m mum, bat as I ve only got one hand, it s hard work to 
hold my tongue. (Going.) Not the least bit of a hint ? (LAURA 
appealingly and then tarns away} They say when a woman says 
no, she means yes ! I wonder if I dare tell her that he s not far 
off. Perhaps I d better not. But I can tell him. (Exit D. F. 

Laura. Plow shall I ever escape that dreadful man ? And RAY 
searching for me too ! Our friends then remember UP as well as our 
enemies. (PEACHBLOSBOM enters quickly D. p. shutting the door 
behind her, trith basket which she places on table c.) 

Peach. C Miss NINA, whatever is into the people ? There s a 
strange man coming down the entry. I heard him asking that red 
cap fellow about you. 

Laura. BYKE ! Fasten the door quick, (PEACH runs to door, it 
is slightly opened, she pushes it against some one on the other side.) 

Peach. O dear ! He s powerful strong, I can t keep it shut. Go 
away you willin ! Oh! ( The door is forced and RAY enters.) 

Hay. (Advancing c.) LAURA It is I. 

Laura. (R. n.) RAY! (Shrinks from him.} 

Kay. Dear LAURA ! (lie stops as he becomes conscious that BLOSSOM 
with her basket on her arm and her bonnet hanging on her back is 
fitaring at him ) I say, my girl, havn t you some particular business 
somewhere else to attend to ? 

Pccu-h. (Seriously, L. H.) No, sir ; I ve swept the sidewalk and 
gone a marketing, and now I m in doors and I mean to stay , 

Kay. And wouldn t you oblige me by going for a sbeet of paper 



20 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

and an envelope ? Here s a dollar try and see how slow yon 
can be. 

Peach. (Firmly) You can t sheet of paper me, mister ; I m pro- 
tecting Miss NINA, and I m not to be enveloped. 

Laura. Go as the gentleman asks you, BLOSSOM. 

Peach. Oh ! (Takes money, fixes her bonnet.) First it s " Keep 
the man out," now it s " Let him stay in alone with me." But I 
suppose she s like all of us it makes a great difference which man 
it is. 

(Exit, D. F. 

Ray. (After watching PEACH out.} LAURA, when I approached 
you, you shrank from me. Why did you so ? 

Laura. Look around you and find your answer. 

Ray. (Shuddering. ) Pardon me, I did not come here to insult 
your misery. When I saw you I forgot everything else. 

Laura, (R. c.) And now it s time for us to remember every 
thing. I told you to look around that you might understand that 
in such a place I am no longer LAURA COURTLAND, nor anything I 
used to be. But I did not ask your pity. There is no misery here. 

Ray. Alone, without means, exposed to every rudeness, unpro 
tected, is this not misery for you? 

Laura. (Laughing.} Oh, it s not so bad as that. 

Ray. LAURA, don t trifle with me. You cannot have exchanged 
everything that made you happy, for this squalid poverty, and not 
feel it deeply. 

Laura. I have not time to feel anything deeply. Takes basket 
up, goes to table, busies herself about preparing dinner.) I work 
from sunrise till night, and I sleep so soundly that I have not even 
dreams to recall the past. Just as you came in I was about to cook 
our dinner. Only think lamb chops! 

Ray. Lamb chops ! It makes me shudder to hear you speak. 

Laura. Does it ? Then wait till I get the gridiron on the fire, 
and youll shiver. And if you want to be transfixed with horror, 
stop and take dinner. 

Ray. I will not hear^ou mock yourself thus, LAUBA. I tell you 
in this self-banishment you have acted thoughtlessly you have 
done wrong. 

Laura. Why ? 

Ray. Because, let the miserable creatures who slandered you say 
what they might, you had still a home and friends. 

Laura. A home 1 Where the very servants would whisper ani 
point. Friends who would be ashamed to acknowledge me. You 
are mistaken. That is neither home nor friendship. 

Ray. And you are resolved to surrender the past forever. 

Laura. The past has forgotten me in spite of myself. 

Ray. Look at me. 

Laura. (Coming down, c.) Well then, there s one who has not 
forgotten me, but I desire that he may. You speak to me of bitter 
ness. Your presence, your words, cause me the first pang I have 
felt since the night I fled unnoticed from my chamber, and began 
my life anew. Therefore I entreat you to leave me, to forget me. 

Ray. LAURA, by the tie that once bound us ! 

Laura. (Going up.} Yes, once. It i* a long tiiue ago. 

Ray. What have I said V the tie which still 

Laura. (Sharply turning.) Mr. TBAFF &gt;RD, must I remind you 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 21 

of that night, when all arrayed themselves so pitilessly against me ? 
When a gesture from you might have saved me ! And you saw me 
sink without stretching a finger to the woman who had felt the 
beating of your heart. No, you made your choice then the world 
without me. I make my choice now the wide, wide, world with 
out you. 

Ray. I have been bitterly punished, for we are never so humili 
ated as when we despise ourselves. But, by the Heaven above us 
both, I love you LAURA, I have never ceased to love you. 

Laura. I thank you. I know how to construe the love which, 
you deny in the face of society, to offer me behind its back. 

Ray. Will you drive me mad ! I tell you LAURA, your misery, 
your solitude is as nothing to the anguish I have suffered. The 
maniac who in his mental darkness, stabs to the heart the friend 
he loved, never felt in returning reason the remorse my error has 
earned me. Every day it says to me : " You have been false to tho 
heart that loved you, and you shall account for it to your conscience 
all your life. You shall find that the bitterest drops in the cup of 
Borrow, are the tears of the woman you have forsaken." And it is 
true. O, forgive me have pity on me. 

Laura. (Moved.) I forgive you. Yes, and I pity you and, so 
good-bye, forever. 

Ray. Of course, lam nothing to you now. That i^ some com 
fort to me. I have only to be sorry on my own account. But, I 
come to you on behalf of others. 

Laura. Whom ? 

Ray. My mother and PEARL. They ask for you. For them I 
have sought you, to urge you to return to them. 

Laura. Dear little PEARL. 

Ray. Yes, she has been quite ill. 

Laura. She has been ill ? 

Ray. Think of those two hearts which you have caused to suffer 
and do not drive me from you. It is not only wealth, luxury and 
refinement which you have surrendered you have also cast away 
those greater riches : loving and devoted friends. But they shall 
persuade you themselves. Yes, I ll go and bring them to you, you 
cannot resist their entreaties. 

Laura. No, no, they must not come here. They must never 
know where I hide my shame, and you must never reveal it. 

Ray. I promise it, if you will go to them with me. Think, they 
will insist on coming unless you do. 

Laura. Poor PEARL ! If I go with you, you promise not to de 
tain me to permit me to come back, and to trouble me and my 
poor life no more V 

Ray. I promise ; but I know you will release me from it when 
you see them. I will get a carriage. So that no one will meet you. 
Wait for me, I shall not be long. It is agreed ? 

Laura. (Smiling.) Yes, it is agreed. 

{Enter PEACHBLOSSOM, D. F. with a sheet of paper, foolscap, and 
wme ejiormous envelopes. 

Peach. (L. H.) Here they are. 

Ray. C. That s a good girl, keep them till I cc ae back. In hall 
ftu Lour, LAURA, be ready. [Ey\t D. P. 



22 UXDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Peach (With an air.} What s he going to do in half 05 *iou, ( 

Laura. He s going to take me away with him for a litt/.t whih , 
BLOSSOM, and while I m gone, I wish you to be a good /; *!, and 
watch the house, and take care of it till I return. 

Peach. I don t believe it. You won t return. (Crying ) That s 
what our SAL said when she went off with her young man, and she 
never came back at all. You shan t go ; I hal e him. i/a shan t 
take you away. 

Laura. BLOSSOM ! (WJio is getting ready, putting herbal an, &c} 

Peach. I don t care. If you go away, 111 go away ; IB bite and 
scratch him if he comes back. (Fiercely tearing up the paper and 
envelopes.} Let him come back. Let him dare come bo ,k. 

Laura. BLOSSOM, you re very wicked. Go into the corner this 
minute and put your apron over your head. 

Peach. (Crying at LAURA S feet.} O, please, Miss NLY v, letrr.e go 
with you, and I ll be so good and not say a word to any ( ne. T Jo i^t 
me go with you. Let me ask him to let me go with y&lt; a.. (Figure 
passes the window.} Here he is ; I see him coming. 

Laura. Run ! run ! open the door. (PEACH runs to floor ; throws 
it open, disclosing BYKE.) (Exclamation of horror from ".^AUJ . \.) 

Byke. (Advancing} Ah, my dear little runaway i Fovad you 
at last, and just going out. How lucky ! I wanted /ou \., take a 
walk with me. 

Laura. Instantly leave this place ! 

Byke. How singular ! you are always ordering me out, jnd I am 
always coming in. We want a change. I will go ou , aui. 1 request 
you to come with me. 

Laura. BLOSSOM, go find an ofiicer. Tell him th 3 wretch is ia- 
Bulting me. 

Byke. BLOSSOM? ah, exactly! Here you, JT DAB ! (JuDA? 
appears at door, down L. H.) (PEACH crosses to LAUKA, R.) 

Judas. 0, Miss, save me ! 

Byke. (Throws PEACH over to JUDAS, L.) Tali 3 care of that 
brat. And as for you, daughter, come with me. 

Laura. Daughter ! 

Byke. Yes; it is time to declare myself. Paterr A! feeling has 
been too long smothered in my breast. Come to my a rms, my child, 
my long-estranged child ! (Takes out dirty handkerchief and presses 
his eyes with pretended feelijig.} 

Laura. God! is there no help coming ? (She attempts to escape. 
BYKE seizes her.} 

Byke. What, unfilial girl ! You take advantage of a father s 
weakness, and try to bolt ! (Clutching her by the arm.) Como, go 
with me ; and cheer my old age. Aint I good, to take you back 
fcf-.er all these years? 

PICTURE. Quick Curtain. 



ACT Iff. 

SCENE 1. The Ttvnbs Police Court. Long high desk, with three 
cats, across lack from R. to L. on Platform. Hailing 
in front. Railing arointd L. H. with opening c. In 
front of railing, a uench it. and L. n. Gate in C. of 

railing. 

JUDGE BOWLING and anolhcr Justice seated behind 
high desk, c. with clerk on his L. H. Justice is reading 
paper, with his feet upon desk, R. H. Policeman at n. 
and L., 1, 2, E. POLICEMAN 9-9-9 at gate, c. Hard- 
looking set of men and women on benches, R. and L. 
Lawyer SPLINTER Y talking to RAFFERDI, who is in 
crowd down R. 

(As the cur ain rises noisy buzz is heard.) 

Bow. SMITIIERS, keep those people cuiet. (9-9-9 handling people 
roughly.) Here easy, officer ; treat those poor people decently. 
Well, whom have you got there ? 

9-9-9. (Going to 1, E. L. n., and dragging urchin within railing.) 
Pickpocket, your Honor. Caught in the act. 

Bow. What s he got to say for himself ? Nothing, eh ? What s 
his name? 

9-9-9. (Stooping down to loy as if asking him.) Says his name is 
PETER RICH. 

Bow. You stand a poor chance, RICH ! Take him away. (Bow- 
LING consults itith other Justice, as the ~boy is taken off E. R. H.) 

Splinter. (To RAFFERDI, who has his monkey and organ.) So you 
want to get out, eh? How much money have you got? 

Raff. . Be jabers ! half a dollar in cents is all the money I m worth 
in the world. 

Splin. Give it to me. I thought you organ fellows were Italians. 

liaff. Devil doubt it ! Aint I got a monkey ? 

9-9-9. Here, you ; come up here. (Takes RAFFERDI inside the 
railing, L. H.) 

Bow. Now, then ; what s this, officer? 

9-9-9. (RAFFERDI takes stand R.) Complaint of disturbing the 
neighborhood. 

Bow. What have you got to say for yourself? 

Splin. (R. H.) If your Honor please, I appear for this man. 

Bow. Well, what have you got to say for him ? 

Splin. Here is an unfortunate man, your Honor a native of 
Sunny Italy. He came to our free and happy country, and being a 
votary of music, he bought an organ and a monkey, and tried to 
earn his bread. But the myrmidons of the law were upon him, and 
the Er gle of Liberty drooped his pinions as RAFFERDI was hunied 
to his dungeon. 

(.3) 



24 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Bow. RAFFERDI ! You re an Irishman, ain t you ? What do 
you mean by deceiving us ? 

Raf. Sure I didn t. It s the lawyer chap there. I paid him fifty 
cints and he s lying out the worth of it. 

Bow. You fellows are regular nuisances ! I ve a great mind to 
commit you. 

Splin. Commit him ! If the Court please reflect commit him 
to prison what will become of his monkey ? 

Bow. Well, I ll commit him too. 

Splin. You cannot. I defy the Court to find anything in the 
Statutes authorizing the committal of the monkey. 

Bow. Well, we ll leave out the monkey. 

Splin. And if the Court please, what is the monkey to do in the 
wide world, with his natural protector in prison ? I appeal to those 
kindlier feelings in your honor s breast which must ever temper 
justice with mercy. This monkey is perhaps an orphan ! 

Bow. (Laughing?) Take them both away, and don t let me 
catch you here again Mr. RAFFERDI or you ll go to jail. 

[Exit RAFFERDI 1 E. L. H. SPLINTER goes down, RAF. Exits. 

9-9-9. (Pulling SAM who is drunk out of a crowd.} Get up here. 

Sam. (Noisily.} Look yah don t pull me around. 

Bow. Silence there ! what s all this noise about ? 

Sam. Whar s de Court ? I want to see de Judge. 

Splin. (Approaching him.) My colored friend can I assist you ? 

Sam. Am you a Counsellor-at-Law ? 

Splin. Yes, retain me ! How much money have you got ? 

Sam. I ain t got no money but I ve got a policy ticket. It* 
bound to draw a prize. 

Splin. Got any pawn tickets? 

Sam. Ob course. (Giving him a handful.) 

Bow. Well, what s the charge ? 

9-9-9. (R. H. c.) Drunk and disorderly. 

Bow. Well, my man, what have you to say ? 

Sam. Pis here gemman represents me. 

Splin. We admit, if the Court please, that we were slightly in 
toxicated, but we claim the privilege, as the equal of the whitt 
man. 

Bow. (To Clerk.} Very good! Commit him for ten days. 

Splin. But this is an outrage, your honor. 

Bow. (To Officer.) Take him off! (Motioning to SAM.) (SpLitf. 
TBR sits down discomfited, SAM very wroth.) 

Sam. What ? 

Bow. Take him away. 

Sam. Look here, judge, hab you read the Civil Right Bi 1 ? You 
can t send dis nigger to prison while dat bill am de law of de land. 

Bow. That ll do remove him. 

Sam. I ain t no gipsy, I m one of de Bureau niggers, I am 1 
Where am de law ? Don t touch me, white man ! Dis am corrup 
tion dis am ficial delinquency. 

9-9-9. (Collars him and carries him off.} 

Sam. Mr. STEVENS ! THADDEUS ! (Exit n. H. 1 E. 

Bow. Any more prisoners ? (Noise L. 1, E.) What noise is that ? 

(Officer goes out. BYKE enters, followed by the officer who escort* 
LAURA.) 

Where is the judge? O, where is the good, kind judge? 



HNDEK THE GASLIGHT. 25 

Row. Well, my dear sir, what is the matter? 
llyke. O, sir, forgive my tears. I m a broken-hearted man 1 
Boio. Be calm, my dear sir. Officer, bring this gentleman a 
chair. [Ojjlccr hands chair it. c. 

Byke. Ah, sir, you are very good to a poor distressed father, 
whose existence has baen made a desert on account of his child. 
Bow. Repress your emotion, and tell me what you want. 
Byke I want my child. 
Row. Where is she V 

Byke.. She is here, sir hero my darling, my beautiful child, 
&lt; IK! so unfilial so unnatural. 

Bow. How is this, young lady ? 

Laura. (Standing inside -railing L, IT.) It is nil a lie". He is not 
my father. 

Byke. Not your father ? Oh, dear, oh, dear, you will break my 
heart, 

Bow. Tliis needs some explanation. If not his child, who are you ? 

Laura. I am I dare not say it. I know not who I am, but I 
feel that he cannot be my father. 

Byke. O, dear O 

Bow. (Sharply.} Silence! {To LACRA, xt.p.rnly..} You say you 
don t know who you are. Do you know this man 2 

Laura. Yes. 

Bow. Where, and with whom do you live ? 

Laura. I have lived alone for four months, 

Bow. And with whom did you live before that? 

Laura. O, forgive me, if I seem disobedient but I cannot 
tell. 

Bow. Then I must look to this gentleman for information. 

Byke. And 1 will gladly give it. Yes, sir, I will gladly tell. She 
was taken from me years ago, when she was but a little child, by 
rich people who wanted to adopt her. I refused they paid me I 
was poor I was starving I forebore to claim her she was happy, 
but they turned her forth four months ago into the street. I could 
not see her suffer my child the prop of my declining days. I 
begged her to come she refused. My enemies had poisoned my 
daughter s mind against me, her father, I am still poor. I taught 
school, but I have saved a little money, only for her. 

Boic. How old is she ? 

Byke. Nineteen. 

Bow. (To LAURA.) Your father is your legal guardian during 1 
your minority, and is entitled to your custody. Why are you so un- 
dutiful ? Try to correct this. 

Byke. Oh, bless you, dear, good judge for those words. 

Laura. O, have I no friends, must I go with him ? 

Bow. Certainly. 

j siura. Anything then. Exposure! Disgrace, rather than that I 

\Jvdges consult. Eider SNOHKEY L. goes opposite to LAURA and 
signals her. 

Byke. (Aside.} SNOKKET ! the devil ! 

Knorkey. (Crossing to LAURA L. c.) Can I help you miss ? Only 
tell me what to do, and if it takes my other arm off, I ll save you. 

Laura. Yes, yes, you can help nie ! ( To Judge.) Will you let 
me sent! a message ? 

Beta. You may do that. 



CO UXDEB THE GASLIGHT. 

Laura. Run to that house not ray house but the ore in rchicli 
you saw me first. Do you remember it ? 

Snorkey. Don t I, and the wine and cukes. 

Laura. Ask for Miss PEARL. Tell her where I am. Tell her to 
come instantly. (SNORKEY going.) Stay tell her to bring- the 
ebony box in mother s cabinet. Can you recollect ? 

Snorkey. Can I what ? Gaze at this giant intellect and don t 
ask me ! The ebony box all right I m off* 

[Exit L. 

Bow. It would have been as well, young lady, to have answered 
frankly at first. 

Byke. O, sir ! Don t be harsh with her ! Don t be harsh with 
my poor child ! 

Bow. Your father has a most Christian disposition. 

Laura. Sir, I have told you, and I now solemnly repeat it, that 
this man is no relation of mine. I desire to remain unknown, for I 
am most unfortunate ; but the injustice you are about to commit 
forces me to reveal myself, though in doing so I shall increase a sor 
row already hard to bear. (SPLINTER talks iclth LAURA aside.) 

Bow. We sit here to do right, according to the facts before us. 
And let me tell you, young lady, that your obstinate silence has 
more than convinced us that your father s statement is correct. 
Further, unless the witnesses you have sent for can directly contra 
dict him, we shall not alter our decision. 

Laura. Let it be so. He says he gave me into the care of cer 
tain wealthy people when I was a little child. 

Byke. I am willing to swear to it. 

Laura. (SPLINTER watching effect of question) Then he will be 
able to describe the clothes in which I was dressed at the time. 
They were safely kept. I have sent for them. 

Byke. Let them be produced and I will recognize every little 
precious garment. (Aside) This is getting ferociously hot forme! 
Ha ! Re-enter SNORKEY with RAY hastily L. t E. 

Snorkey. (Excitedly) Here s a witness ! Here s evidence ! 

9-9-9 admonishes him. 

Laura. (RAY takes her hand through the rail.) HAY? 

Bow. Who is this ? 

Ray. I am a friend, sir, of this lady. 

Byke. He is a dreadful character a villain who wants to lead 
my child astray ! Don t please don t let him contaminate her ! 

Bow. Silence! (To RAY.) Can you disprove that this young 
lady is his daughter. 

Ray. His daughter ? (Looks at LAURA.) 

Laura. He knows nothing. 

Bow. Let him answer. Come have you any knowledge of this 
matter ? 

Ray. I had been told, sir, that (LAURA looks at him.) Xo 

I know nothing. 

Laura Have you brought the ebony box ? It contained the 
clothes which I wore when 

Ray. I understand ; bnt in my haste, and not knowing your 
peril I brought nothing. But can * ou not remember them your 
self? 

Laura. Perfectly. 

Ifay. Write, then (Handing her a memorandum book.) 3V 



UXDER THE GASLIGHT. 27 

Bow.) Sir, tliis lady will hand you a description of those articles 
which she wore when she was found, thirteen years ago. Then let 
this scoundrel be questioned and if he fail to answer, I will ac 
cuse him of an attempted abduction. 

Bow. That s the way. 

Byke. (Aside.) It will not be a great effort for me to remember. 

Sow. (Taking the book from RAY.) Now, sir, I will listen to 
you, 

(RAY and LAURA are eager and expectant?) 

BYKE. (Deliberately.) A soiled gingham frock, patched and 
kvrn. (LAURA gives a shudder and turns aside.) 

B-iw. What kind of shoes and stockings ? 

Byke. Her feet were bare. 

Bow. And the color of her hood ? 

By ICQ. Her dear little head was uncovered. 

BOLD. (Handing book back.) He has answered correctly. 

Laura. It is useless to struggle more! Heaven alone can help 
me! 

Ray. You can see, sir, that this lady cannot be his daughtei 
Look at her and at him ! 

Bow. I only see that he has pretty well proven his case. She 
must go with him, and let her learn to love him as a daughter 
should. 

Ray. She shall not ! I will follow him wherever he goes. 

Byke. (Taking LAURA S hand.) I appeal to the Court. 

Bow. Officer, take charge of that person, until this gentleman ia 
gone. 

Byke. (Coming forward with LAURA w lio is dumb and despairing) 
My child, try and remember the words of the good judge. " You 
must learn to love me as a daughter should." (Leading her towards 

B. H.) 

Snorkey. (To RAY.) Stay here, sir, I ll track him. No one sus 
pects me ! 

[Music, Tableau, Scene closes in. 

LAURA R. H. BYKE R. c. SNORKEY c. RAY L. H. 

SCENE II. EXTERIOR OF THE TOMBS, with ballads on stringy 
upon the railings. Enter JUDAS followed by PEACH- 
BLOSSOM L. n. f E. 

Peach. Only tell me where he has taken her, and I ll go with 
you indeed I will. 

Jitdas. We don t want you, we wouldn t be bothered with you 
Sae s our game. 

Pearl. What are you going to do with her ? 

Judas. Do ! why we ll coin her. Turn her into dollars. WeVe 
Lad it on foot for a long time. 

Peach. What ! Is she the rich young lady I heard you and BYO* 
sp^ak of so often before I got away from you ? 

Judas. (Saimytly.) Heard me speak of! What did you hear? 

Peach. (Dancitig off.) O, I know ! I know more than you sup- 
pose. When you used to lock me up in the back cellar for runuin^ 
u way, you forgot that doors had key-holes. 

(Aside.) This girl must be silenced. 



28 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

PeacT-,, What are you muttering about don t you know 
BIKE used to throw you down and trample on you for muttering ? 

Judas. I ll have you yet, my beauty. 

Peach. I think you are a great fool, JUDAS. 

Judas. Likely. Likely. 

Peach-. Why don t you give up Miss NINA to that handsome 
young gentleman ? He d pay you well for the secret. He d give 
his whole fortune for her, I know, I saw it in his face. And he d 
treat you better than BYKB does. 

Judas. Not yet my chicken ; besides, what does he care for her 
now ? Isn t he going to marry the other girl she s the one will 
pay when the time conies but we intend to hold the goods till the 
price is high. 

Peach. Then, if you won t, I ll tell all as I knows. I ll tell him 
all I used to overhear about babies and cradles, and he ll understand 
it perhaps, if I don t. 

Judas. (Aside.} Hang her she ll make mischief. (Aloud.) Well, 
come along with me, my beauty, and I ll talk it over with you. 

Peach. Don t touch me, I won t trust you with your hands on me. 
(JUDAS makes a dart at her.) I knew that was your game. But I ll 
be even with you yet. (Dancing off tantalizingly before JUDAS. Both 
exit R. n.) 

(Enter SNORKEY R. 1 E.) 

Snorkey. (Despondent.) I m no more use than a gun without a 
trigger. I tried to follow BYKE, but he smoked me in a minute. 
Then I tried to make up with him, but he swore that I went against 
him in Court, and so he wouldn t have me at no price. Then I ran 
after the carriage that he got into with the lady, till a damn d old 
woman caught me for upsetting her apple stand and bursting up her 
business. What am I to do now ? I m afraid to go back to the 
Cap n, he won t have me at any price either, I suppose. (Gazing at 
"ballads, hand in Ids pockets going from one to the other. Enter BER 
MUDAS L. 1 E. with ballads in his hands and preparing to take others off 
the line as if to shut up shop. 

Per. (After gazing at SNORKEY.) What are you a doing of sa-a-y ? 
(SnorJcey takes no notice.) This here s one of the fellows as steals the 
bread of the poor man. Reading all the songs for nothin, and got 
bags of gold at home. Sa-a-y ! 

Snorkey. Well, youngster, what are you groaning about ? Have 
jrou got the cholera ? 

Ber. A h I What arc you doing ? Taking the bloom off my songs ? 
5fou re read them ere ballads till they re in rags. 

Snorkey. I was looking for the " Prairie Bird." 

Ber. Perary Bird ! eh ? There aint no perary bird. There s a 
"Perary Flower." 

Snorkey. Now don t go into convulsions. I ll find it. (Turns to 



Ber. Sa-ay you needn t look no further for that bird ! I ve 
found him, and no mistake. He s a big Shanghae with a red comb 
and no feathers. 

Snorkey. He s dropped on me. 

Ber. Ain t you a mean cuss, p&ay ? Why don t you come down 
with your two cents, and support trade ? 

Snorkey. But I ain t got. two cents. \Vhat s a fellow to do if h 
hasn t ot a led 1 * 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 29 

Ber. (Toning down.} Haint you? Where s your messages t 

Snorkei/. Havn t had one go to-day. 

Ber. Where do you hang out ? 

Snorkey. Nowheres. 

Ber. My eye no roost ? 

Snorkey. No. 

Ber. I tell you what, come along with us we ve got a bully 
place no rent no taxes no nothin. 

Snorkel/. Where is it ? 

Ber. Down under the pier ! I discovered it. I was in swimmin 
and seed a hole and I went in. Lots of room, just the place for a 
quiet roost. We has jolly times every night I tell you on the 
dock ; and when it is time to turn in we goes below, and has it as 
snug as a hotel ; come down with us. 

S n or key, I will! These young rascals will help me track that 
scoundrel yet. 

Ber. Now, help me to take in my show windows ; it s time to 
shut up shop. 

(Enter RAY TRAFFORD, L.) 

Ttrt??/. If what that crazy girl has told me can be true, LAURA 
may yet be restored to her friends if not to me, for I have dispelled 
that dream for ever. But that villain must be traced immediately, 
or he will convey his victim fur beyond our reach or rescue. 

(SNORKEY helping to take down songs, sees TR AFFORD, who has crossed 
to R. H.) 

Sforkep. Hollo! Cap n ! 

J\ay. The man of all I wanted. You tracked him ? 

Snorkey. They was too much for me, sir two horses was but 1 
Baw them turn into Greenwich street, near Jay. 

Kay. This may give us a clue. I have learned from a girl who 
knows this fellow, that he has some hiding-place over the river, and 
owns a boat which is always fastened near the pier where the Bos 
ton Steamers are. 

Snorkey. Well, Cap n, if anything s to be done, you ll find me at 
Pier what s the number of our pier, SHORTY ? 

Ber. Pier 30 ! Down stains ! 

Snorkey. Pier 30. That s my new home, and if you want me, 
6a .y the word. 

Ray. You will help me ? 

Snorkey. You bet, Cap n. I was on Columbia s side for four years, 
and I ll fight for her daughters for the rest of my life, if you say so. 
If there s any fight in count me in, Cap n. 

Hay. Thank you. brave fellow. Here take this noDonsense-- 
takeit. Pier 30 is it? 

Snorkey. Pier SO. (Exit TR AFFORD, R. 1 E.) 

Ber. (Eyeing money.} How much, Pfift&RY ? 

Snorkey. One two three four four dollars. 

Ber. Four dollars ! Sa-ay Don t you want to buy a share in a 
paying business? I m looking out for a partner with a cash capital, 
for the ballad business. Or I tell you what to do. Lay your money 
on me in a mill. I m going to be a prize fighter, and get reported 
in the respectable dailies. "Rattling Mill, 99th round, BERMUDAS 
the victor, having knocked his antagonist into nowheres." 

Sn&rkcy. Come along, you young imp. I could floor you with 



80 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

my own arm, and then the report would be : " 25th round SHOO. 
KEY came up first, while his antagonist showed great signs of dis 
tress." 

Ber. Say, PERARY, what are you going to do with all that 
money ? 

tinorkey. I won t bet it on you, sure. 

Ber. I ll tell you what to do, let s go and board at the Metropo 
litan Hotel for an hour. 

Snorkey. What will we do for toothpicks ? 

Ber. Oh, go along. You can t get anything to eat for four 
dollars. 

(Exit SNORKEY, BER. squaring offL. 1. E. 



SCENE III Foot of Pier 30, North River. Sea cloth down and 
working A pier projecting into the river. A large cav 
ity in front. Bow of a vessel at back, and other steamers, 
vessels and piers in perspective on either side. The flat 
gives view of Jersey City and the river shipping ly star 
light. Music of distant serenade heard. 

BYKE enters sculling a boat, R. 2d E. and fastens his loat to the pier 
L. H. Old JUDAS is on the pier, smoking pipe, looking down. 

Judas. Have you fixed everything across the river ? 

Bifke. Yes, I have a horse and wagon waiting near the shore to 
carry her to the farm. Has any one been around here. 

Judas. Not a soul. I ve been waiting here for an hour. What 
made you so long ? 

Byke. I pulled down the river for a spell to throw any spies off 
the track. It was necessary after what you told me of that girl s 
threat to blab about the Boston pier. 

Judas. Pshaw ! she d never dare. 

Byke. Never mind, it s best to be certain. Is the prize safe ? 

Judas. Yes, she was worn out, and slept when I came away. 
How her blood tells she wouldn t shed a tear. 

Byke. Bah ! if she d been more of a woman and set up a scream 
ing, we shouldn t have been able to get her at all. Success to all 
girls of spirit, say I. 

Judas. Don t you think it might be worth while to treat with 
this young spark, TRAFFORD, and hear what he has to offer ? 

Byke. Satan take him ! no. That ll spoil your game about the 
other girl, PEARL. He was making up to her all right, and if he 
pets this one back he ll upset the whole game by marrying her. I 
tell you he s got the old feeling for her, spite of her running away. 
Now you can judge for yourself, and do as you please. 

Judas. Then I do as you do-^get her out of the city. When 
PEARL is married to him we can treat for LAURA S ransom, by 
threatening them with the real recret. 

B\jke. Then that s settled. (Taking out flask.) Here s the prec 
ious infant s health. Do you think she ll go easy, or shall we drug 
her? 

Judo*. Just tell her it s to meet her beau and get her ransom, or 
give her a reason and she ll bo as mild as a lamb. 

Jiifke. Ha ! let me get hold of her, and I ll answer she goee 



XTNDER T11E GASLIGHT. 31 

across, reason or no reason. (BERMUDAS calls outside L. &gt;r.) There s 
a noise. 

Judas. It s only the market boys coming down for a swim, 

Byte. Softly then, come along! [J///.sv&gt;. Kxennti*. 

[tiuter BER., PEANUTS, andaeonpUot/ur boys, L. 

Bcr. Say, PEANUTS, go down and see if any of the fellows * 
come yet. (PEANUTS scrambles down to hole in front on side of dock ; 
coiitts out again.) 

Beunuts. There s nobody there. 

Unorkey. (without) Hollo! 

Ber. Hollo 1 That s our new chum. Hollo ! follow your front teeth, 
and you ll get here afore you knows it. 

[falter SNOitKEY with more boys, L. 

Snorkcy. What a very airy location. 

Her. It s a very convenient hotel. Hot and cold saltwater baths 
at the very door of your bedrooms, and sometimes when the tide 
rises we has the bath brought to us in bed doesn t we, PEANUTS? 

J J eannts. That s so. 

S/iorkey. Come, what do you do before you go to bed ? 

Btr. We has a swarry. Say, one of you fellows, go down and 
bring up the piany forty. (PEANUTS goes into hole and gets banjo.) 
Vvhat Jl I give you? 

Snorkey. Something lively. (Music, and dance by boys, ensue, 
given according to capacity and talent. At the end of it, a general shout 
of jubilee ; when 

Sergeant of Patrol. (Outside.) Here, boys ! less noise. 

Ber. It s ACTON and the police. Let s go to bed. (BER. and boys 
get down into hole.) 

Sergeant. (Entering L. in patrol boat.) If you boys don t make leal 
noise, I ll have to clear you out. 

Bet: (On the pier.) It s an extra occasion, Mr. ACTON ; we re 
having a distinguished military guest, .and we re entertaining him. 
\ LBoat pauses oat, R.) Come along, BERAliY, let s go to bed. (SNOii- 
*^KEY is about to descend.) 

(fader RAY TBAFFOBD, L. on pier.) 

Bay. Is that you, SNORKEY V 

Snorkey. (Quickly whispering.) Here, sir. Anything turned up ? 

Bay. BYKE was overheard to say he intended crossing the river 
to-night ; he will doubtless use that boat which he keeps by tht&gt; 
Boston Pier. The river patrol are on the watch for him. But I 
will meet him before he can embark. 

Snorkei/. Which Boston Pier is it, Cap n ? there are three on this 
river. 

Hay. Three ! 

Snorkey. \e& ; one of them is two slips below. I tell you what, 
Cap n : You get the officers, go by the shore way, search all the 
blips ; 111 find a boat about here, and will drop down the river, and 
keep an eye around generally. 

Voice. ( Without, L. H.) This way, sir. 

Hay. That s the patrol calling me. Your idea is a fjood one. 
Ke^p a sharp eye down the stream. {Exit L. 

ftnorkey. ^Alone.) Now for my lay. 

Ber. (Popping his head up.) Say, can t I do nothin ? I m the 
Fifth- Ward Chicken, and if there s any muss, let me have a shy. 

Sitorkey. No ; get in and keep quiet. (BEii. disappears.) I won- 



32 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

tk-r where 1 cn find a boat. There ought to be p .enty tk-d u|i 
about here. My eye ! (Discovering BYKE S ) Here s one for the 
wishin ; scuils too. I m in luck. Say, BERMUDA whose boat ia 
this? 
Her. Yours, if you like. Tie it loose. 

(Jumps down, enters boat, pushes off towards ft. 
, Ber. (Inside!) Keep your toe out of nay ear I 

(Pause.} [BYKE, LAURA, and JUDAS, enter on pie , froi.i I. 

Laura. Is this the place ? There is no one here ; you have de 
ceived me. 

Bykc. Well, we have but we won t do so any longer. 

Laura. What do you mean ? 

Byke. (Drawing pinto!.) Do you see this ? It is my dog Trusty. 
It has a very loud voice and a sharp bite ; and if you scream out, 
I ll try if it cant outscream you. JUDAS, unfasten the boat. 

Laura. What are you about to do ? You \vill not murder me ? 

Bykf. No ; we only mean to take you to the other shore, where 
your friends won t think of finding you. Quick, JUDAS. 

Judas. The boat s gone. 

i/ke. Damn you, what do you mean ? Where is it ? Here ; 
hold her. (JUDAS clutcJies LAURA.) Where the devil is that boat ? 

Snorkei/. (Re- appearing in. boat from ft.) Here! 

Byke. SNOEKErl We re betrayed. Come. (Drags LAURA to 
wards L.) 

Snorkey. The police are there ! Turn, you coward ! Don t run 
from a one-armed man ! 

Byke. JUDAS, take her ! (SNORKEY strikes at him with oar. BYKE 
takes oar from him and strikes him ; he falls in boat. The boys /tear 
the noise, and scramble up at back. The patrol boat appears at B., with 
lights.) 

Snorkey. Help ! BERMUDAS ! 

_Bcr. Hi! Ninety-ninth round! Srst blood for BERMUDAS! 
(Jumps at BYKE.) 

JJyke. (Flinging BER. off.} JUDAS, toss her over ! 

Judas throws LAURA over back of pier. RAY enters L. Boys all get 
on pier and surround BYKE, fighting him. Officers enter Jtt L 
U-aps into water after LAURA.) 



MOONLIGHT ox DURING SCENB. 



ACT IV. 

JVo otrpet. 

SCL HE L Long Branch. Ground floor of an elegant rev*xnnce 
open windows from floor to ceiling at bade opening 
upon a balcony or promenade. Perspective of u&gt; short 
and sea in distance. Doors R. and L. 



As the curtain rises to lively music, from K. enter PEABL, Mns. 
VAN DAM, SUE EAHLIE, and other ladies in summer costuw , DE- 
MILT and WINDEL with them. 

Pearl. And so the distinguished foreigner is in love with rrv ? I 
thought he looked excessively solemn at the hop last 1114 ht. Do 
you know, I can t imagine a more serious spectacle than a French 
man or an Italian in love. One always imagines them to be sick. 
{To Mrs. V. D.) Do fasten my glove there s a dear. 

Mrs. D. Where s KAY ? 

Pearl. O, he s somewhere. I never saw such another. Isn t he 
cheerful ? He never smiles, and seldom talks. 

Mrs. V. D. But the foreigner does. What an ecstasr he was in 
over your singing ; sing us a verse, won t you, while v;.re waiting 
f or Ray V 

All. It will be delightful do. 

Pearl. Well 1 [Sung introduced. 

(Air ; When the War is Over, Mary.} 

I. 

Now the summer days are fading, 

Autumn sends its dreary blast 
Moaning through the silent forest 

Where the leaves are falling fast. . 
Soon dread winter will enfold us 

Chilling in its arms of snow, 
Flowers that the summer cherished, 

Birds that sing, and streams that flcm, 

II. 

Say, shall all things droop and wither, 

That are born this Summer day? 
Shall the happy love it brought us 

Like the flowers fadeaway ? 
No ; be still thou flutt ring bosom 

Seasons change and years glide by, 
They may not harm what is immortal- 

Darling, love shall never die ! 

Pearl. Now, I ve sung that to RAY a dozen times, and he neve/ 
even said it was nice. He hasn t any soul for music ; 0, dear, wh .&lt; 
a creature 1 

J/rx. V. I). Yes, and what a victirr* you will be with a husbaD-1 
who has $00,000 per annum income. 

2* (33) 



84 ^ffDER THE GASLIGHT. 



Pearl. That s Rome comfort, isn t it ? 

Ray. (Kuters L. H. bowing to others.) Going 1 out, PEARL? 

Pearl. Yes, we re off to Shrewsbury. Quite a party s going- 
four carriages and we mean to stay and ride home by moonlight. 

Ray. Couldn t you return a little earlier? 

Mrs. V.D. Earlier! Pshaw! What s in you, TR AFFORD. (The 
ladies and c/ents. go up.) 

Ray. (PEARL, c.) You know that LAURA will be quite alone, 
and she is still suffering. 

Pearl. Well, she ll read and read, as she always did, and never 
miss me. 

Ray. But, at least, she ought to have some little attention. 

Pearl. Dear, dear, what an unreasonable fellow you are. Isn t 
she happy now didn t you save her from drowning, and havn t I 
been as good to her as I can be what more do you want ? 

Ray. I don t like to hear you talk so, PEARL, and remember 
what she and you were once. And you know that she was some 
thing else once something that you are now to me. And yet how 
cheerful, how gentle she is. She has lost everything and does not 
complain. 

Pearl. Well, what a sermon ! There, I know you re hurt and 
I m a fool. But I can t help it. People say she s good-looking, but 
she s got no heart ! I d give anything for one, but they aiat V be 
bought. 

Ray. Well, don t moan about it, I didn t mean to reprove yoti. 

Pearl. But you do reprove me. I m sure I havn t been the cause 
of LAURA S troubles. I didn t tell the big, ugly man to come and 
take her away, although I was once glad he did. 

Ray. PEARL ! 

Pearl. Because I thought I had gained you by it. (RAT turns 
away.) But now I ve got you, I don t seem to make you happy. 
But I might as well complain that you don t make me happy but 
I don t complain, I am satisfied, and I want you to be satisfied. 
Til ere, are you satisfied ? 

Mrs. V. 1). ( Who with others has been promenading up and down the 
balcony.) Here are the carriages. 

Pearl. I m coming. Can t you get me my shawl, RAY. (RAY 
fftts it from chair.) 

Mrs. V. D. And here s your foreign admirer on horseback. 

(SUE EARLIE, DEMILT and WINDEL, exit.) 

Pearl. (Up stage C.) Bye, bye, RAY. (Exit.) 

Mrs. V. D. Are you not coming, TRAFFORD ? 

Kay. I? No! 

Mrs V D. Do come on horseback, here s a horse ready for you. 

Peart. (Without.) RAY! RAY! 

Mr*. V. D. PEARL S calling you. Be quick or Count CAROM 
will be before you, and hand her in the carriage. 

Ray. (Taking his hat slowly.) O, by all means, let the Count have 
Borne amusement. 

Mrs. V.D. (Taking RAY S ami.) You re a perfect icicle. 

[They exit. 

[Noise of whips and laugliter. Plaintive music as LAUXA enter*. 
L. goes to c. and (jazcs out at them.} 



TINDER THE GASLIGHT. 35 

Laura. Poor PEARL. It is a Bad thing to want for happiness 
but it is a terrible thing to see another groping about blindly for it 
when it is almost within the grasp. And yet she can be very 
happy with him. Her sunny temper, and her joyous face will 
brighten any home. (Sils at table c., on which are books,) How 
happy I feel to be alone with these friends, who are ever ready to 
talk to me with no longings for what I may not have my exist 
ence hidden from all, save two in the wide world, and making my 
joy out of the joy of that innocent child who will soon be his wife. 

(PEACHBLOSSOM appears at back looking in cautiously, gro~ 
tesquely attired. 

Peach. If you please. 

Laura. (Aloud.) Who is there? 

Peach. (Running in window F.) O, it s Miss NlNA ! O, I m SO 
glad ; I ve had such a hunt for you. Don t ask me nothing yet. I m 
so happy. I ve been looking for you so long, and I ve had such 
hard luck. Lord what a tramp miles on miles. 

Laura. Did any one see you come here ? How did you find me ? 

Peach. I asked em at the hotel where Mr. TRAFFOBD was, and 
they said at COURTLANDS, and I asked em where COURTLANDS 
was, and they said down the shore, and I walked down lookin at 
every place till I came here. 

Laura. Speak low, BLOSSOM. My existence is a secret, and no 
t&gt;ne must hear you. 

Peach. Well, Misi, I says to SNORKEY says I 

Laura. Is he with you V 

Peach. No, Miss, but we are great friends. He wants me to 
keep house for him some day. I said to him " I want to find out 
where Miss NINA S gone," and so he went to Mr. TRAFFORD S and 
found he was come to Long Branch, but never a word could we 
hear of you. 

Laura. And the others those dreadful people ? 

Peach. BYKE and old JUDAS ? Clean gone ! . They hasn t been 
seen since they was took up for throwing you into the water, and 
let off because no one came to Court agin em. BERMUDAS says he s 
seen em in BARNUM S wax-work show, but BERMUDAS is such a 
liar. He brought me up here. 

Laura. Brought you up here. 

Peach. Yes, he sells papers at STETSON S ; he s got the exclusive 
trade here, and he has a little wagon and a horse, and goes down to 
the junction every night to catch the extras from the Express train 
what don t come here. He says he ll give me lots of nice rides if 
I ll stay here. 

Laura. But you must not stay here. You must go back to New 
York this evening. 

Peach. Back ! No, I won t. 

Laura. BLOSSOM ! 

Peach. I won t, I won t, I won t! I ll never let you away again. 
I did it once and you was took away and dragged about and chucked 
overboard and almost drowned. I won t be any trouble, indeed I 
won t. I ll hire out at the hotel, and run over when my work is done 
at night, when nobody can see me, to look up at your window. Don t 
Bond me away. Ybu ve the only one as ever was good to me. 



36 UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Laura. (Aside?) It s too dangerous. She certainly wool E 
me sooner or later. I must send her back. 

Peach. Besides, I ve got something to tell you. Dreadful ! dread 
ful ! about old JUDAS and BYKE a secret. 

Laura. A secret ! what in the world are you saying? 

Peach. Is it wicked to listen at doors when people talk ? 
, Laura. It is very wicked. 

Peach. Well, I suppose that s why I did it, I used to listen to 
BYKE and JUDAS when they used to talk about a ricL lady whom, 
they called Mrs. COURTLAND. 

Laura, Ah ! 

Peach. JUDAS used to be a nurse at Mrs. CouRTLAJfVs, and was 
turned off for stealing. And wasn t she anrt BYKE gji ag to make 
money off her ! and BYKE was to pretend to be somehj- .utiful lady s 
father. Then, when they took you, JUDAS says to me : " Did you 
ever hear of children being changed in their cradles ?" and that you 
wasn t her child, but she was going to make money off the real one 
at the proper time. 

Laura. What do you tell me ? 

Peach. Oh! I m not crazy. I know a heap, don t I? And I 
want you to think I m somebody, and not send me away. 

Laura. (To herself.) She must speak the truth. And yet if I 
were to repeat her strange words here, I should be suspected of forg 
ing some tale to abuse the ear of society. No! better let it resc as 
it is. She must go and I must go too. 

Peach. You ain t mad with me ? 

Laura. No, no ; but you must go away from here. Go back to the 
hotel to your friend anywhere, and wait for me ; I will e&lt; &&amp;gt;. to you. 

Peach. Is it a promise ? 

Laura. (Nervously) Yes, go. 

Peach. Then I ll go ; for I know you always keep your word 
you ain t angry, cause I came after you ? I did it because I loved 
you because I wanted to see you put in the right place. Honor 
bright, you ain t sending me away now? Well, I ll go ; good bye ! 

[Exit c. 

Laura. (Animated.} I nrnst return to the city, no matter what 
dangers may lurk there. It is dangerous enough to to concealed 
here, with a hundred Argus-eyed women about me every day, but 
with this girl, detection would be certain. I must go secretly if 
I can openly if I must. 

Ray. (Outside.) No, I shall not ride again. Put him up. (En 
tering) LAURA, I knew I should find you here. 

Laura. (Sitting and pretending composure) I thought you had 
gone with PEARL ? 

Ray. I did go part of the way, but I left the party a mile down 
the road ? 

Laura. You and PEARL had no disagreement ? 

Hay. No yes ; that is, we always have. Our s &gt;cial barometers 
always stand at " cloudy " and " overcast." 

Laura. (Rising ) And whose fault is that ? 

Itai/. (Pettishly.} Not mine. I know I do all I can I say all I 
canbut she (Crossing) 

Laura. But she is to be your wife. RAY my friend courtship 
is the text from which the whole solemn sermon of married life takea 
its th-.-me. Do not let jours be discontented and unhappy. 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 37 

Rfi ?/. To be my wife ; yes. In a moment of foolish ness, dazj !ed 
ly hei airs, and teased by her coquettishness, I asked her to be my 
wife. 

Laura. And you repent already ? 

Roy (Taking her Jiand.) I lost you, and I was at tho mercy of 
Buy flirt that chose to give me an inviting look. It w&s your fault 
- -you know it was ! Why did you leave me ? 

Laura. (After conflict with her feelings.) RAY, the greatest hap 
piness I have ever felt, has been the thought that all your affections 
were forever bestowed upon a virtuous lady, your equal in family, 
fortune and accomplishments. What a revelation do you make to 
me now ! What is it makes you continually war with your happi 
ness ? 

Ray. I don t know what it is. I was wrong to accuse you. For 
give me ! I have only my own cowardice to blame for my niifaery. 
But PEARL 

Laura. You must not accuse her. 

Ray. When you were gone, she seemed to have no thought no 
wish but for my happiness. She constantly invited me to her 
house, and when I tried to avoid her, met me at every turn. Was 
she altogether blameless ? 

Laura. Yes, it was her happiness she sought, and she had a right 
to seek it. 

Ray. Oh ! men are the veriest fools on earth ; a little attention, a 
little sympathy, and they are caught caught by a thing without 
soul or brains, while some noble woman is forsaken and forgotten. 

Laura. (RAY throws himself into a seat.) RAY, will you hear me? 

Ray. (Looking at her hopefully.] Yes, speak to me as you used 
to speak. Be to me as you used to be. 

Laura. (Smiling sadly.} I cannot be that to you; but I can speak 
as the spirit of the LAURA who is dead to you forever. 

Ray. Be it as you will. 

Laura. (Standing beside him.) Let the woman you look upon be 
wise or vain, beautiful or homely, richer poor, she has but one thing 
she can really give or refuse her heart ! Her beauty, her wit, her 
accomplishments, she may sell to you but her love is the treasure 
without money and without price. 

Ray. How well I have learned that. 

Laura. She only asks in return, that when you look upon her, 
your eyes shall speak a mute devotion ; that when you address her, 
your voice shall be gentle, loving and kind. That you shall not des 
pise her because she cannot understand, all at once, your vigorous 
thoughts and ambitious designs : for when misfortune and evil 
have defeated your greatest purposes her love remains to console 
you. You look to the trees for strength and grandeur do not des 
pise the flowers, because their fragrance is all they have to give. 
Remember, love is all a woman has to gi re ; but it is the only 
earthly thing which God permits us to carry beyond the grave. 

Ray. (Rising.) You are right. You are always right. I "asked 
PEARL to be my wife, knowing what she was, and I will be just to 
her. I will do my duty though it break my heart. 

Laura. Spoken like a hero. 

Rn/. But it is to you I owe the new light that guides me ; and 
I will tell her 

Laura,. Tell her nothing never speak of me. And when you 



88 tTNTDER THE GASLIGHT. 

see her, say to her it is she, and she alone, whom you consult and 
to whom you listen. 

Ray. And you 

Laura. You will see me no more. 

Kay. You wiu leave me ? 

Laura. Something of me will always be with you my parting 
words my prayers for your happiness. (Distant music heard.) 

Jlay. (Falling on Ms knees.) O, LAURA, you leave me to despair. 

Laura, (c.) No ; to the happiness which follows duty well per 
formed. Such happiness as I feel in doing mine. 

PICTURE. 

Scene closes in. During last of tMs scene t7ie sun has set, and 
night come on. Stage dark. 

SCENE II. Woods near Shrewsbury Station. 
(Enter BYKE shabbily dressed, L. 1 E.) 

Byke. It s getting darker and darker, and I m like to lose my 
way. Where the devil is JUDAS ? It must be nine o clock, and she 
was to be at the bend with the wagon half an hour ago. (Mumble 
of wheels heard.) Humph at last. 

Judas. (Entering L.) Is that you BYKE ? 

Byke. Who did you suppose it was ? I ve been tramping about 
the wet grass for an hour. 

Judas. It was a hard job to get the horse and wagon. 

Byke. Give me a match. (Lights pipe and leans against a tree.) 
Did you get the bearings of the crib ? 

Judas. Yes, it is on the shore, well away from the other cottages 
a ad hotels. 

Byke. That s good. Nothing like peace and quietness. Who s 
in the house? 

Judas. Only the two girls and the servants. 

Byke. How many of them ? 

Judas. Four. 

Byke. It ll be mere child s play to go through that house. 
Have you spied about the swag ? 

Judas. They have all their diamonds and jewels there ; PEARL 
wears them constantly ; they re the talk of the whole place. 

Byke. We ll live in luxury off that girl all our lives. She ll settle 
a handsome thing on us, won t she ? when she knows what we 
know, and pays us to keep dark ; if t other one don t spoil the 
game. 

Judas. Curse her ! I could cut her throat. 

Si, ke. O, I ll iake care of that ! 

Judas. You always do things for the best, dear old BYKE ! 

Byke. Of course I do. What time is it ? 

Judas. Not ten yet. 

Byke. An hour to wait. 

Judas. But, DYKE, you won t peach on me before my little pet 
IB married, will you ? 

Byke. What * the fool about now ? 

Juda*. I can t help trembling ; nothing is safe while LAURA if 
there. 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 89 

Byke. I ve provided for that. I ve "had the same idoa as you 
while she s in the way, and TRAFFORD unmarried, our plans are all 
b-inoke, aud we might as well be sitting on the hob with a keg of 
powder in the coals. 

Judas. That we might. But what have you thought to do ? 

Byke. Why, I ve thought what an unfortunate creature LAURA 
IS) robbed of her mother, her home, and her lover ; nothing to 
live for ; it would be a mercy to put her out of the way. 

Judas. That s it ; but how how how 

Byke. It s plain she wasn t born to be drowned, or the materials 
are very handy down here. What made you talk about cutting 
her throat ? It was very wrong ! W r hen a thing gets into my 
head, it sticks there. 

Judas. You oughtn t to mind me. 

Byke. Make your mind easy on that score. 

Judas. (Alarmed.} BYKE, I heard some one in the bushes just 
there. (Points off R.) 

Byke. (Nervously and quickly.} Who? Where? (Going R.) 

Judas. Where the hedge is broken. I could swear I saw the 
shadow of a man. 

Byke. Stop here. I ll see. [Offn. 

Judas. (Solus.) I begin to shiver. But it must be done or we 
starve. Why should I tremble ? it s the safest job we ever planned. 
If they discover us, our secret will save us ; we know too much 
to be sent to jail. 

(Re-enter BYKE, slowly.) 

Byke. Ther are traces, but I can see no one. (Looking off R.) 

Judas. Suppose we should have been overheard! 

Byke. (Glaring at Tier.} Overheard? Bah! no one could 
understand. 

Judas. Come, let us go to the wagon and be off. 

Byke. (Always looking off R.) Go you, I will follow. Bring it 
round by the station, and wait for me in the shadows of the trees. 
I will follow. ( JUDAS goes off L. BYKE, after a moment, still look 
ing R., buttons up his coat and hides behind wood, R. H.) Heigho I 
I must be off. 

(Enter SNORKEY, slowly, R.) 

Snorkey. Tracked em again*! We re the latest fashionable arri 
vals at Long-Branch. " Mr. BYKE and LADY, and Brigadier-General 
SNORKEY, of New- York ;" there s and item for the papers ! With a 
horse and wagon, they ll be at the seaside in two hours ; but in the 
train I think I ll beat em. Then to find Cap n TRAFFORD, and give 
him the wink, and be ready to receive the distinguished visitors 
with all the honors. Robbery ; Burglary ; Murder ; that s BYKE S 
catechism : " What s to be done when you re hard up ? Steal 1 
What s to be done if you re caught at it? Kill !" It s short and 
easy, and he lives up to it like a good many Christians don t live up 
to their laws. (Looking ojf L.) They re out of sight. Phew ! it s 
midsummer, but I m chilled to the bone ; something like a piece of 
ice has been stuck between my shoulders all day, and something like 
a black mist is always before me. (BYKE is behind tree.) Just like 
old NETTLY told me he felt, the night before Fredericksburg ; and 
next day he was past all feeling, hit with a shell, and knock ed into 
eo many pieces, I didn t know which to call my old friend. Well, 



40 TTXDER THE GASLIGHT. 

(xlappinff his chest,} wo ve all got to go ; and if I can save them, I1\ 
have some little capital to start the next world on. The next world ? 
perhaps I shan t be the maimed beggar there that I an* in this. 
(jfakcs out pistol, examines cap ; goes ojf L., Bi KE gliding after him.) 

SCENE ILL Railroad Station at Shrewsbury Bend. Up R. the 
Station shed R. IT. Platform around it, and door 
at side, window in front. At L. L. E. clump of 
shrubs and tree. The Railroad track runs from 
L. 4 E. to ii. 4- E. View of Shrewsbury River in 
perspective. Night. Moonlight. The switch, with, 
a red lantern and Signal marts coat hanging on 
it L. c. T/ie Signal lamp and post beside it. 

As the scene opens, several packages are lying about the Stage, 
among them a bundle of axes. The Signal man is wheeling in a 
small barrel from L. whistling at his icork. Enter LAURA in 
walking dress, coming feebly from L. u. E. 

Laura. It is impossible for me to go further. A second time I ve 
fled from home and friends, but now they will never find me. The 
trains must all have passed, and there are no conveyances till to 
morrow. (She situ at clump L. U. E.) 

Signal. Beg pardon, ma am, looking for anybody ? 

Laura. Thank you, no. Are you the man in charge of this sta 
tion? 

Signal. Yes, ma am. 

Laura. When is there another train for New York ? 

Signal. New York ? Not till morning. We ve only one more 
train to-night ; that s the down one ; it ll be here in about twenty 
minutes " Express Train." 

Laura. What place is that ? 

Signal. That? That s the signal station shed. It serves for 
store-room, depot, baggage-room, and everything. 

Laura. Can I stay there to-night ? 

Signal. There ? Well it s an odd place, and I should think you 
would hardly like it. W hy don t you go to the hotel ? 

Laura. 1 have my reasons urgbnt ones. It is not because I want 
money. You shall have this (producing portmonnaie) if you let me 
remain here. 

Signal. Well, I ve locked up a good many things in there over 
night, but I never had a young lady for freight before. Besides, 
ma m, I don t know anything about you. You know it s odd that 
you won t go to a decent hotel, and plenty of money in your pocket. 

Laura. You refuse me well I shall only have to sit hera aU 
night. 

Signal. Here, in the open air ? Why, it would kill you. 

Laura. So much the better. 

Signal. Excuse me for questions, Miss, but you re a running 
away from some one, ain t you V 

Laura. Yes. 

Sigiud. Well, I d like to help you. I m a plain man you know, 
and I d like to help you, but there s one thing would go agin me to 
in. (LAURA intcrcst-ed.} I m on to fifty ycare of ago, and Tvo 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 41 

many children, some on em daughters grown. There s a many 
temptations for young gals, and sometimes the old man has to put 
on the brakes a bit, for some young men are wicked enough to per 
suade the gals to steal out of their father s house in the dead of 
night, and go to shame and misery. So tell me this it ain t the 
old man, and the old man s home you ve left, young lady ? 

Laura. No ; you good, honest fellow no I have no father. 

Signal, Then, by Jerusalem ! I ll do for you what I can. Any. 
thing but run away from them that have not their interest but 
yours at heart. Come, you may stay there, but I ll have to lock 
you in. 

Laura. I desire that you should. 

Signal. It s for your safety as much as mine. I ve got a patent 
lock on that door that would give a skeleton key the rheumatism to 
fool with it. You don t mind the baggage. I ll have to put it in 
with you, hoes, shovels, mowing machines, and what is this axes. 
Yes, a bundle of axes. If the Superintendent finds me out, I ll ask 
him il he was afraid you d run off with these. (Laughs.} So, if you 
please, I ll first tumble em in. (Puts goods in house, LAURA sitting 
on platform R. H. looking at him When all in, he comes towards her, 
taking up cheese-box to put it in Station.} I say, Miss, I ain t curious 
but, of course, it s a young man you re a going to ? 

Laura. So far from that, it s a young man I m running away from. 

Signal. (Dropping box.) Running away from a young man ! Let 
me shake hands with you. (Shakes her hand.} Lord, it does my 
heart good ! At your age, too ! (Seriously.) I wish you d come 
and live down in my neighborhood a while, among my gals. (Shak 
ing his head.) You d do a power of good. (Putting box in station.) 

Laura. I ve met an excellent friend. And here at least I can bo 
concealed until to-morrow then for New York. My heart feels 
lighter already it s a good omen. 

Siynal. Now, Miss, bless your heart, here s your hotel ready. 

(Goes to switch and takes coat off, -putting it on.) 

Laura. Thanks, my good friend ; but not a word to any one till 
to-morrow ; not even not even to your girls. 

Signal. Not a word, I promise you. If I told my girls, it would be 
over the whole village before morning. (She goes in. He locks door. 
LAURA appears at window facing audience.) 

Laura. Lock me in safely. 

Signal. Ah! be sure I will. There! (Tries door.) Safe as a 
jail. (Pulls out watch, and then looking at track icith lantern.) Ten 
minutes and down she comes. It s all safe this way, my noisy beauty, 
and you may come as soon as you like. Good night, Miss ! 

Laura. (At window.) Good night. 

Signal. Running away from young man, Ha ! ha ! ha ! 

(He goes to trade, then looks down R. lights his pipe and is trudg 
ing off R., when enter SNORKEY from L. u. E. 

SnorJcey. Ten minutes before the train comes. I ll wait here for 
it. ( To Signal man who re-enters) Hollo, I say, the train won t 
stop hero too long will it, 

Signal. Too long? It won t stop here at all. 

Snorkty. I must reach the shore to-night. There ll be murder 
done, unless I can prevent it 1 

tiign d. Murder, or no murder, the train can t be stopped. 



42 TINDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Snorkey. It s A lie. By waving the red signal for danger, the 
engineer must stop, I tell you 1 

Signal. Do you think I m a fool ! What ! disobey orders and 
lose my place ; then what s to become of my family ? (Exit R. U. E. 

Snorkey. I won t be foiled. I will confiscate some farmer s horse 
about here, and get there before them somehow. (BYKE enters at 
back with loose coil of rope in his hand.} Then when BYKE arrives in 
his donkey cart he ll be ready to sit for a picture of surprise. (BYKE 
enters L. u. E. suddenly throwing the coil over SNORKEY.) 

Byke. Will he ? 

Snorkey. BYKE ! 

Byke. Yes, BYKE. Where s that pistol of yours ? (Tightening 
rope round Ms arm.} 

Snorkey. In my breast pocket. 

Bi;ke. (Taking it.} Just what I wanted. 

Snorkey. You ain t a going to shoot me ? 

Buke. No ! 

Snorkey. Well, I m obliged to you for that. 

Byke. (Leading him to platform.} Just sit down a minute, will 
you. 

Snorkey. What for? (LAURA, appears horror struck at window.) 

Byke. You ll see. 

Snorkey. Well, I don t mind if I do take a seat. (Sits dowi. 
BYRE coils the rope round his leys.) Hollo! what s this? 

Byke. You ll see. (Picks the helpless SNORKEY up.} 

Snorkey. BYKE, what are you going to do ! 

Byke. Put you to bed. (Lays him across the R. R. track.} 

Snorkey. BYKE, you don t mean to My God, you are a villain ! 

Byke. (Fastening him to rails.} I m going to put you to bed. 
You won t toss much. In less than ten minutes you ll be sound 
asleep. There, how do you like it ? You ll get down to the Branch 
before me, will you ? You dog me and play the eavesdropper, eh ! 
Now do it if you can. When you hear the thunder under your head 
knd see the lights dancing in your eyes, and feel the iron wheels a 
foot from your neck, remember BYKE ! (Exit L. H. E. 

Laura. O, Heavens ! he will be murdered before my eyes ! How 
can I aid him ? 

Snorkey. Who s that? 

Laura. It is I. Do you not know my voice ? 

Snorkey. That I do ; but I almost thought I was dead, and it 
was an angel s. Where are you ? 

Laura. In the station. 

Snorkcy. I can t see you, but I can hear you. Listen to me, Miss, 
far I ve got only a few minutes to live. 

Laura. (Shaking door.} God help me ? and I cannot aid you. 

Snorkey. Never mind me, Miss. I might as well die now, and 
here, as at any other time. I m not afraid. I ve seen death in al 
most every shape, and none of them scare me ; but, for the sake of 
those you love, I would live. Do you hear me ? 

Laura. Yes ! yes ! 

Snorkei/. They are on the way to your cottage BYKE and JU 
DAS to rob and murder 

Laura,. (In agony.) 0, I must get out I (Shakes window barf.} 
What shall I do? 

Snorkey. Can t you burst the door ? 



US DEE THE GASLIGHT. 43 

Laura. It is locked fast. 

Snorkel/. Is there nothing in there ? no hammer ?- -no crow bar ? 

Laura. Nothing ! (Faint steam whistle heard in the distance.} O, 
tieavens ! The train ! (Paralysed for an instant.} The axe ! 1 ! 

Jnorkey. Cut the woodwork ! Don t mind the lock cut round 
it ! How my neck tingles ! (A blow at door is heard.} Courage ! 
(Another.} Courage ! {The st&itn whistle heard again nearer, 
and rumble of train on track. Another Uow.} That s a true wo 
man ? Courage ! (Noise of locomotive heard with whistle. A 
last blow; the door swings open, mutilated the lock hanging 
and LAURA appears, axe in hand.} 

SnorJcey. Here quick ! (She run a and unfastens him. The 
locomotive lights glare on scene.} Victory ! Saved ! Hooray ! 
(LAURA Iwns exhausted against switch.} And these are the wo 
men who am t to have a vote ! 

(As LATJ#A takes his head from the trade, -the train of cars rushes 
fast with vwr and whistle from L. to E. H. 



ACT V. 

SCEXE I. An elegant boudoir at COURTLAND S cottage, Long 
Branch; open icindow and balcony at back ; moon 
light exterior ; tree overhang ing balcony. 

Bed is at u. E. L.; toilette table n. ; arm chair c. ; 
door L. 2 E. ; lighted lamp on toilette table ; dresses 
on chair by bed L. n. and by window on R. (Music.) 

PEARL is discovered (en negligee) brushing lier hair out at talk 
before mirror. 

Pearl. I don t feel a bit sleepy. What a splendid drive we had 1 
I like that foreigner. What an elegant fellow he is ! RAY is noth 
ing to him. I wonder if I m in love with him. Pshaw ! What an 
idea ! I don t believe I could love anybody much. How sweetly he 
writes ! (picks up letter and sits on chair c.) " You were more lovely 
than ever to-night ; with one more thing, you d bean angel !" Now, 
that s perfectly splendid : " with one more thing, you d be an angel 
that one thing is love. They tell me Mr. TRAFFORD is your pro 
fessed admirer. I m sure he could never be called your lover for 
he seems incapable of any passion but Melancholy." It s quite Iruo. 
RAY does not comprehend me. (Takes up another letter.) PEARL, 
forgive me if I have been cross and cold. For the future, I will do 
my duty, as your affianced husband, better." Now, did ever anyone 
hear such talk as that from a lover? Lover! O. de&rl I begin to 
feel that he can love, but not me. Well, I d just as soon break if 
he d be the first to speak. How nice and fresh the an is ! (she turns 
down lamp.) It s much nicer here, than going to bed. (Settles her 
self in tete-a-tete for a nap. Pause.) 



[Moonbeams fall on BYKE, who appears aboid IliC balcony. He gets 
over the rail and enters. 

Byke. Safely down ! I ve made no mistake no, this is her room. 
What a figure I am for a lady s chamber. (Goes to table, picks up 
delicate lace handkerchief, and wipes his fare.) Phew ! Hot ! (Puts 
handkerchief in his pocket ) Now for my bearings. (Taking hur/s 
da&p-knife from Ms pocket.) There s the bed where "she s sleeping like 
a precious infant, and here (Sees PEARL in chair and steals round 
at back, looking down at Jier.) It s so dark I can t recognize the 
face. It s a wonder she don t feel me in the air and dream of me. 




(Takes them cut.) What s here (Going to table.) Bracelets dia- 

monds ! (Going to dresses, and feeling in the pockets.) Money ! That s 

Landy. (He puts all in a bwj, and hands them owr balcony.) 

(44) 



UNDEH THE GAS! - V. 45 

for the drawers, there s where the treasure must be. Locked? 
( Tried them with I inch of keys ) Patent lock, of course ! It amuses 
me to see people baying pateut locks, when there s one key will lit 
? em all. (Produces small crowbar, and just as he is about to force the 
drawer, a shout is heard, and noise of wagon.) What s ihat ? (Jumps, 
catching at bureau, which falls over.) Damnation ! 

Pearl. (Starting up.) Who s there ? What s that ? 

Byke. Silence, or I ll kill you 1 

Pearl. Help! Help! 

Byke. (Running to b urea u for knife.) You will have it my pretty 
one. (PEARL runs to door L.) 

Pearl. Save me ! Save me ! (BYKR pursues her, the door bursts 
open and RAY and LAURA enter. BYKE turns and runs to balcony, 
and confronts SNORKEY and BERMUDAS, who have clambered over) 

Laura. Just in time. 

Ray. (Seizing BYKE.) Scoundrel ! 

Snorkey. Hold him, Governor 1 Hold him. (Assists RAY to bind 
BYKE in chair R. n.) 

Ber. Sixty-sixth and last round. The big un floored, and BER 
MUDAS as fresh as a daisy. 

Pearl. Dear, dear LAURA, you have saved me. 

Rnjf. Yes, PEARL ; from more than you can tell. 

Laura. No, no, her saviors are there. (Pointing to BER. and 
SNOR.) Had it not been for the one, I should never have learned 
your danger, and but for the other, we could never have reached 
you in time. 

Snorkey. BERMUDAS and his fourth editions did it. Business 
enterprise and BERMUDAS pony express worked the oracle this time. 

Ber. The way we galloped ! Sa-ay, my pony must have thought 
the extras was full of lively intelligence 

Pearl. Darling LADRA, you shall never leave us again. 

Ray. No ! never. 

Snorkei/. Beg pardon, Cap n, what are we to do with this here 
game we ve brought down ? 

Ray. The Magistrates will settle with him. 

Snorkey Come, old fellow ! 

Byke. One word, I beg. My conduct, I know, has been highly 
reprehensible. 1 have acted injudiciously, and have been the occa 
sion of more or less inconvenience to every one here. But I wish 
to make amends, and therefore I tender you all in this public man 
ner my sincere apologies. I trust this will be entirely satisfactory. 

Ray. Villain ! 

Byke. I have a word to say to /ou, sir. 

Snorkey. Come, that s enough. 

Byke. My good fellow, don t interrupt gentlemen who are con- 
versing together. (To RAY.) I address you, sir you design to 
commit me to the care of the officers of the law ? 

Ray. Most certainly. 

Byke. And you will do your best towards having me incarcera 
ted in the correctional establishmei ts of this country ? (RAY bows.) 

Snorkel/. How very genteel ! 

Byke. Then I have to say if you will, I shall make -a public ex 
posure of certain matters connected with a certain yo.un&lt; lady. 

Laura. Do not think that will deter us from your punishment 
I can bear even more than 1 have foi the sake cf justice. 



46 TNDER THE GASLIGHT. 

Byke. Excuse je, hut I did not even remotely refer to you. 

Laura. To whom, then ? 

Byke. (Pointing to PEAKL.) To her. 

Ray. Miss OOURTLAISIDV 

Byke. O, dear ! no, sir. The daughter of old JUDAS the spuri 
ous child placed \i\your cradle, Miss -LAURA COUHTLAND, when you 
were abducted from it "&gt;y your nurse. 

Pearl. What does he say ? 

Byke. That you re a beggar s child we have the proofs ! De 
liver me to prison, and I produce them. 

Ray. Wretch ! 

Pearl. Then it s you, dear LAURA, have been wronged while 

Laura. You arc my sister still whatever befalls ! 

Pearl. Oh, I m so glad it s so I RAY won t want to mai ry me, 
now at least, I hope so ; for I know he loves you he alway* loved 
you and you will be happy together. 

Ray. PEARL, what are you saying ? 

Pearl. Don t interrupt me ! I mean every worcl of it. LAURA, 
I ve been very foolish, I know. I ought to have tried to reunite 
you- -but there is time. 

Ray. Dear LAURA ! Is there, indeed, still time ? (She gives her 
hand.} 

Byke. Allow me to suggest that a certain proposition I had the 
honor to submit has not yet been answered. 

Ray. Release him. (SNORKEY undoes his cords.) 

Byke. Thank you not so rough ! Thank you. 

Ray. Now, go but remember, if you ever return to these parts 
you shall be tried, not only for this burglary, but for the attempt 
to kill that poor fellow. 

Byke. Thank you. Good-bye. ( To SNORKEY.) Good-bye, my 
dear friend; overlook our little dispute, and write to me. (Aside.) 
They haven t caught JUDAS, and she shall make them pay hand 
somely for her silence, yet. 

[Enter PEACH, L. 1 B. 

Peach. Mis ! 0, such an accident old JUDAS I 

Laura and Byke. Well ? 

Peach. She was driving along the road away from here just 
now, when her horse dashed close to the cliff and tumbled her 
down all of a heap. They ve picked her up, and they tell me she 
is stone dead. 

Byke. (Aside.) Dead! And carried her secret with her! All s 
up. I ll have to emigrate. (Aloud.) My friends, pardon my 
emotion this melancholy event has made me a widower. I solicit 
your sympathies in my bereavement. [Exit L. 

Ber. Go to Hcboken and climb a tree ! I guess I ll follow him 
and see he don t pick up anything on his way out. 

[Exit BER. L. E. 

Snorkey. W r ell there goes a pretty monument of grief. Ain t he a 
cool un ? If I ever sets up an ice cream saloon, 111 have him fojc 
head freezer. 

Peach. 0, M ; iss LAURA, mayn t I live with you now, and never 
leave no more. 

Law*. Yes, you shall live with, me as long as you please 



UNDER THE GASLIGHT. 47 



SnarJcey. That won t be loner if I can "help it (PEACH 
Beg pardon. I suppose we d better be going! The ladies rri^i be 
tired Cap n at this time of night. 

Ray. Yes, it is night ! It is night always for me. (Mr/ft? to 
wards door L.) 

Laura. (Placing one liand on his shoulder, taJdng his 7t*/iJ ) Let 
there is a to-morrow. You see it cannot be dark forever, 

Pearl. Hope for to-morrow, RAY. 

Laura. We shall have cause to bless it, for it wuM ijrLig tat 
long sought sunlight of our lives. 

CURTAIN. 
B. SNOSKEY. LAUEA. RAY. PEAHL. PEAcnBLos.n&gt;M. L. B 





BENCH S 



Pron 
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FOR AMATEURS. 



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1. Cott age, Interior (j 6) *" 
Exterior (,a/j 
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son (c I) 
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tie (fc) 
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BORDERS AND SIDEfc 


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Trial by Jury, composed by Arthur Sullivan, 1 act, words by W 8 i Gilbert 
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